Sri Lanka's Shehan Jayasuriya, Kusal Mendis Collide Near Boundary, Give New Zealand A Six In Final Over

Sri Lanka players Shehan Jayasuriya and Kusal Mendis suffered minor injuries after they collided with each other to give New Zealand a much-needed six in the final over of the second T20 International in Pallekele on Tuesday. With seven runs needed in six balls, New Zealand lost Tom Bruce and Daryl Mitchell on consecutive deliveries by Wanidu Hasaranga, before Mitchell Santner decided to play a lofted shot to long-on. Shehan Jayasuriya took the catch but he touched the boundary following the collision with teammate Kusal Mendis, who came racing towards him from deep mid-wicket.

The six levelled the score and Santner followed it up a winning boundary to help New Zealand win the match by four wickets, with two balls to spare.

"Drama in the deep! A great catch from Jayasuriya but he collides with his teammate and goes over the boundary. Santner awarded SIX. Receiving medical attention now, hopefully all ok," the Blackcaps captioned the pictures of the collision on Twitter.

Drama in the deep! A great catch from Jayasuriya but he collides with his team mate and goes over the boundary. Santner awarded SIX Receiving medical attention now, hopefully all ok. #SLvsNZ pic.twitter.com/TJZaUcfczu

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 3, 2019

Skipper Lasith Malinga said the two fielders "are alright and will play the next game hopefully". 

This is not the first time when these two cricketers have suffered injuries on the field. In August, Jayasuriya and Mendis skidded off a bike while celebrating a clean sweep victory over Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series in Colombo. 

The winning team was presented with a motorbike and the players took turns to take rides.

Mendis also took the bike for a spin around the R Premadasa Stadium but could not stay in control. As Mendis was trying to take a turn, he lost balance and skidded off the bike along with Jayasuriya, who was on the back seat.

The guards and groundsmen at the stadium rushed towards the players as the duo struggled to recover from the fall.

WATCH: Kusal Mendis suffers a nasty bike accident after series win over Bangladesh #SLvBAN #SriLanka #Ashes #Cricket pic.twitter.com/mnCmA52JGv

— Rooter App (@RooterSports) August 1, 2019

On Tuesday, Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Bruce put on 109 runs for the fourth wicket as New Zealand chased down their target of 162 with two balls to spare in Kandy and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The third match will be played in Kandy on Friday.

(With AFP inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

Sri Lanka Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team Shehan Jayasuriya Kusal Mendis Cricket Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I