Grandstand collapses in Galle as wild weather delays play in second Test
A temporary grandstand has collapsed in Galle as a fierce storm swept across the ground before day two of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka.
The roof of the stand gave way in the wild weather, minutes after the Australian team arrived at the ground.
The match is being played in the middle of monsoon season in Galle, which is in the south-west of Sri Lanka.
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The collapsed roof, caused by bad weather ahead of day two of the First Test in the series between Sri Lanka and Australia. Photo: Buddhika Weerasinghe Getty
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Play was still more than an hour from starting, and local authorities are reporting nobody was in the stand at the time. The grandstand that collapsed was fully occupied on day one of the match.
A glass panel in another tent was also blown over, with many of the panels shattering.
Army officers stand next to a partially collapsed tent. Photo: Buddhika Weerasinghe Getty
TV camera platforms were also damaged.
The entire field was covered, with groundstaff using tyres to weigh down the tarps in the strong winds.
Unsurprisingly, play on day two was delayed.
Australia will resume at 3-98 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 212, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 47 and Travis Head 6.
A roof sheet falls off a TV platform. Photo: Buddhika Weerasinghe Getty
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