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Bees Invade Pitch at Cricket World Cup, Cause Delay in Sri Lanka and South Africa Match

Players laid down on the pitch and covered their face as the bees attacked. 

Michael Shapiro

Stu Forster-IDI/IDI via Getty Images

South Africa and Sri Lanka were enjoying a close match in the Cricket World Cup in Durham, England on Friday before a true terror arrived on the pitch: bees.

The swarm of bees attacked players throughout Emirates Riverside, which forced them to flop onto the ground in hopes of avoiding a gnarly welt. Most players covered their faces, too, in what from afar looked like an impressive group nap. But there's nothing relaxing about these flying menaces.

The bees exited the pitch in less than half an hour, returning normalcy to cricket's greatest event.

The Cricket World Cup final will be held on July 14. 

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Michael Shapiro
MICHAEL SHAPIRO

Michael Shapiro is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated. He is a Denver native and 2018 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.

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