Sri Lanka trolls Bangladesh with ‘time-out’ celebration after series win

Sri Lanka trolled Bangladesh after their T20I series win against them on Saturday, March 9 as they used the ‘time-out’ celebration while posing with the trophy.

The Lankan Lions won the third and final match of the series by 28 runs to clinch the series 2-1 and decided to take a dig at their opponents with a unique celebration. Sri Lanka posted an image on their Instagram profile with the trophy where all the players were seen pointing to their left wrist, indicating an imaginary watch.

What is the story behind the time-out celebration?

The feud between both teams regarding time-out started during the World Cup 2023 in India, when Angelo Mathews became the first player to be dismissed for not reaching the field on time.

The strap of Mathews’ helmet broke as he walked to bat and the Sri Lankan all-rounder wanted it to be changed, and out came the other one. While he waited for a replacement, Shakib filed an appeal, and Mathews was given out.

This would start a back and forth between members of both sides, with the spirit of cricket also being brought into the discussion. During the first T20I, Shoriful Islam had also used the ‘time-out’ gesture to celebrate a wicket and now Sri Lanka have decided to respond in their own fashion.

What happened in the third T20I between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh?

The series decider saw Sri Lanka setting a challenging target of 174/7 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks in large part to Kusal Mendis’ spectacular performance. Mendis smashed a career-best 86 to setup an interesting chase for Bangladesh.

The spotlight, however, was stolen by Nuwan Thushara, whose remarkable bowling spell culminated in a sensational hat-trick. Thushara, who had been recalled to the side, demonstrated impeccable skill and precision, trapping Mahmudullah LBW for the first ball to secure his hat-trick. This moment of brilliance not only silenced the hosts but also swung the momentum firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor.

Thushara’s hat-trick was a pivotal moment in the match, effectively stifling any hopes of a Bangladesh comeback. Despite the hosts’ efforts, they were unable to recover from this setback, ultimately falling short of their target by 28 runs. This victory sealed a 2-1 series win for Sri Lanka, marking a significant achievement for the team.