In a light-hearted turn of events during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, and seasoned Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews found themselves in a comical exchange on the field.

The amusing incident unfolded at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru when Mathews walked in to bat against New Zealand. Williamson, along with Trent Boult, welcomed Mathews to the pitch and playfully drew attention to his helmet’s strap, sparking a smile from the Sri Lankan all-rounder.

This light moment carried a touch of irony as Mathews had recently made headlines for an unusual dismissal. In Sri Lanka’s previous match against Bangladesh, he faced the rare fate of being timed out, the first-ever such dismissal in international cricket. Struggling with his helmet’s strap, Mathews couldn’t reach the crease within the stipulated time, leading to an appeal from the Bangladesh players and captain Shakib Al Hasan. The Sri Lankan all-rounder was adjudged out by the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth.

Kane Williamson asking Angelo Mathews if he had checked his Helmet strap when he came to bat. 😂😂😂#NZvsSL #WorldCup2023india #ICCWorldCup #AngeloMatthews pic.twitter.com/Z7DvHtFGvz

— ER mani (Parody) (@NormanBates1896) November 9, 2023

Despite a spirited argument by Mathews, he was asked to leave the field. In that match, Bangladesh successfully chased down the 280-run target, securing a victory with three wickets and 8.1 overs to spare.

Back to the encounter with New Zealand, Trent Boult had already set the tone for the Kiwis with an impressive performance in the opening powerplay, claiming three wickets. The light banter between Williamson, Boult, and Mathews added a refreshing touch to the competitive spirit of the World Cup. 

It is pertinent to note that the ongoing match is a must-win game for the Kiwis if they have to secur a place in the semis.