Watch: Dust storm during AUS vs SL tie leaves spectators scampering for safety after WC hoardings fall onto stands

Australian stars Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell looked at the incident from afar with sheer shock. Fortunately, none of the spectators were injured.

Bouncing back from a strong opening stand that Sri Lanka had put on, Australia inflicted an epic collapse in an almost must-win game for either side in the 2023 World Cup. However, amid the final phase of the Sri Lanka innings, the Ekana Stadium donned the look of a post-apocalyptic movie scene when dust storm in Lucknow halted the match for a brief while on Monday. (Australia vs Sri Lanka Live Score, World Cup 2023)

Australia players look shocked as World Cup hoardings fall into stands

It happened in the 43rd over of the Sri Lanka innings when the 1996 champions had huffed and puffed their way past the 200-run mark for the loss of nine wickets. The wind in Lucknow had picked up and it looked very gusty; hence on-field umpires were urged to pause the match.

So strong were the winds that the World Cup hoardings attached to the roof of the Lucknow stadium fell on the stands along with other objects as spectators scampered for safety. The camera also caught Australian stars Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell looking at the incident from afar with sheer shock. Fortunately, none of the spectators were injured.

Charith Asalanka looked to resist the collapse with a fighting 39-ball 25, but lacked support as none of the batters could go past 10.

Sri Lanka eventually folded for 209 in 43.3 overs.