News
Lightning And ‘Severe Weather’ Forces Partial Crowd Evacuation At The Gabba
Follow UsThe threat of lightning forced the ground staff to move quickly, as the players went off the field after 4.5 overs.
Having taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series, following a thumping victory in Gold Coast, team India got off to an electric start in the fifth T20I at the Gabba, racking up 52 runs in just 4.5 overs before bad weather played spoilsport.
After winning the toss and bowling yet again, Australia gave Abhishek Sharma not one but two reprieves as the in-form left-hander became the quickest-ever batter to 1000 T20I runs.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Shubman Gill, who was criticised for batting slowly in the fourth game, upped the ante as he got off to an absolute flyer, racking up 29 off just 16 balls. Gill tore into Ben Dwarshuis as he smashed the left-armer for four fours in the same over to send a statement.
However, Gill’s cameo and Abhishek’s world record was both overshadowed by dangerous weather at the Gabba which forced partial evacuation of the crowd. The threat of lightning forced the ground staff to move quickly, as the players went off the field after 4.5 overs. Then, soon after, fans present in the lower stands were evacuated and moved out for safety reasons.
A message on the big screen also urged fans to exercise caution: “We are currently experiencing severe weather and it is unsafe to remain in open areas. Please seek shelter under cover and follow the directions of event staff,” the message read.
Should the match be abandoned, India will walk away with a 2-1 series win, and will hand Mitchell Marsh his first bilateral series defeat in T20Is. As of now, Marsh has led Australia in 8 T20Is series, with the Kangaroos not losing a single one.