Sri Lanka saw a rare case of play being interrupted due to crowd violence on Sunday night during the 3rd one day international against Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

 

Rioting crowds forced cricketers to retreat to their dressing rooms as projectiles reached the outer field of the R. Premadasa Stadium during the Sri Lankan innings of the match.

 

Police deployed anti-riot squads to clear two blocks of stands near the scoreboard as rival groups of spectators clashed, pelting stones into the grounds from outside the stadium after they were forced out during Sri Lanka's run chase in the day-night match, AFP reported.

 

Sri Lanka, chasing Pakistan's 316-4, were struggling at 158-7 in the 34th over when the disturbances at the grounds in the Sri Lanka capital forced the umpires to order the players to their dressing rooms until the situation was brought under control.

 

"The umpires decided to suspend play after a player complained that a stone had landed near him," a police source at the grounds told AFP.

 

No players were hurt, and the match resumed after a nearly 20 minute delay. There were no immediate reports of arrests.

 

Several vehicles at the stadium were damaged due to stone throwing, however, witnesses said.

 

Pakistan eventually won the match by 135 runs to take the lead of the series 2-1.

(With inputs from AFP)