Men in the Mask

Men in the Mask 

Smog in the air distracts Kohli and India 

On day two of the third test between India and Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan team were unhappy with the weather conditions at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Delhi. 

Right-arm pacer Lahiru Gamage seemed to be struggling with the atmospheric conditions on the field.  It was smog. This is a type of air pollutant which can also be described as smoky fog.  

Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal made a complaint to the umpires about the smog effecting the health of his players. 

This meant there was a halt in play of up to 20 minutes. India skipper Virat Kohli and team director Ravi Shastri were quite annoyed with the match officials as the team were in a dominant position and felt that the Sri Lankan's were deliberately trying to disturb their progress.   

The host were 519-5 and Kohli was on 243 not out and wanted to resume his innings but unfortunately he was distracted by the delay and was out LBW on the next ball.

Umpires Nigel Long and Joel Wilson were forced to call upon match referee David Boon for his expertise in match officiating. Boon assessed the situation with Kohli, Shastri, Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas and the two on-field umpires and eventually resumed playing. 

The Sri Lankans then decided to put on earloop face masks to prevent them from breathing in the smog. This was an unexpected and amusing moment of the game as there has never been a situation like this before in the history of professional cricket.   

However, it wasn't long until the Sri Lankans yet again started complaining about the situation. Kohli then made a smart move by choosing to declare with the hosts on 536 for 7. India then made early inroads in to the Sri Lankan innings with Mohammad Shami dismissing opener Dimuth Karunaratne who was caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha from the bowling of Mohammad Shami.

It wasn't long before the Indians picked up their second wicket where this time Dhananjaya de Silva was out LBW by fellow pacer Ishant Sharma. 

Both of India's new ball bowlers were on fire and should have had a third when Dilruwan Perera was put down by Shikhar Dhawan at second slip. 

India's slip catching woes continued when this time Angelo Matthews was dropped by Kohli at second slip. 

There was then a partnership of 61 between Perera and Matthews before Perera was trapped LBW by Ravindra Jadeja via the DRS system with the score on 75 for 3. 

it wasn't long before Matthews reached a half century by hitting a six down the ground from the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin followed by another six in the same over through mid-on.

The tourists finished day 2 on 131 for 3 but there is no doubt what so ever that the main verdict of the day will be about the Sri Lankans and the smog.