The second T20I between India vs South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, did not just witness a flurry of fours and sixes but bizarre interruptions as well. In the first innings, a snake’s entry into the ground led to a few minutes of break as groundsmen rushed to the middle. The second innings witnessed another stoppage, this time even longer as one of the floodlight tower lost power.
The incident took place in the third over of South Africa's run chase. After Deepak Chahar delivered the first ball of the third over, one of the light towers stopped functioning. The wait continued for more than 10 minutes. The players took an extended break. The opponents interacted with each other as the stadium personnel tried to get the light tower running back again.
This is not the first time Barsapara Cricket Stadium has been home to bizarre incidents. In 2020, the groudsmen used iron and hairdryer were used in order to get the pitch ready for an India vs Australia T20I encounter. The photos and videos went viral on the internet for bizarre ways to dry the pitch.
Before the stoppage in the second innings, Arshdeep Singh derailed South Africa’s run chase early on with the wickets of skipper Temba Bavuma and Rilee Rossouw. Both the batters got out for ducks in the second over bowled by the left-arm pacer in the run chase of 238.
