Vicious wicket halts India-Sri Lanka one-dayer

NEW DELHI — The fifth and final one-day international between India and Sri Lanka was halted on Sunday due to a treacherous uneven wicket at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

Sri Lanka, sent in to bat, were 83-5 in the 24th over when the umpires stopped play after a ball from debutant seamer Sudeep Tyagi bounced alarmingly before going to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Match referee Alan Hurst of Australia walked to the middle to speak to the umpires after Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara gestured from the sidelines to stop play.

Some 40,000 spectators looked on as the players came off the field and match officials discussed the matter with local organisers.

It was not clear if the match will continue.

Two Sri Lankan batsmen, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya, were hit on the body by balls that rose after pitching, while some other deliveries kept low.

The match holds only academic interest as India enjoy an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.