A local cat snake (gerandiya) has become world famous after making its way onto a cricket field during a live televised cricket match last week and stopping play for a few minutes.

The snake was seen on television when it slithered its way into the middle of the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo during a match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) between Dambulla Aura and Galle Titans. The arrival of the snake on the ground halted the match for a few minutes and cricketers were seen trying to chase the reptile away from the ground.

The snake was then seen slithering out of the boundary line towards the bags of the players.

The snake’s appearance on the cricket ground has gone viral on social media, with some international media even reporting on the incident. The Telegraph had posted the video clip on its website and the commentators are heard saying: “This is a first… Snake in the grass... Never seen anything like this... It’s a massive one…”