WATCH: Chamika Karunaratne survives run-out in unusual manner as zing bails malfunction

Cricket is recognised for its odd series of happenings that astound its supporters and admirers all around the world. From pitch invaders charging into the field of play to animals causing regular disruptions, the match between the two teams is frequently lost in the shadows.

A similar bizarre scenario occurred during the opening ODI involving hosts New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Saturday, March 25, at Eden Park in Auckland, where Sri Lanka's standout with the ball in the contest, Chamika Karunaratne, received a major reprieve. 

Karunaratne took 4/43 in his nine-over spell to restrict the New Zealand batsmen to 274 and was named the team's best bowler by Dasun Shanaka. However, he was also obliged to take the field because the Sri Lankan batting order collapsed dramatically. 

On the fourth delivery of the 18th over, facing Blair Tickner, Karunaratne ran across for an instantaneous single but fell short of the crease. The verdict was referred upstairs, and to everyone's amazement, he was adjudged not out because, despite the fact that the bails had been removed in time, the zing bails failed to light up owing to battery failure, and Karunaratne congratulated his luck.

How did the match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka pan out?

New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by 198 runs in the first ODI in Auckland on Saturday, powered by Henry Shipley's career-best 5-31. Sri Lanka were bowled down for 76 in the 20th over while chasing 275, with Shipley directing their slaughter on a bouncy surface at Eden Park. Just three Sri Lankan batters reached double figures on their dreadful scorecard. 

Earlier in the innings, New Zealand got bowled for a respectable 274 runs. Five New Zealanders scored over 25, although opener Finn Allen's 51 was the highest total by a New Zealand batter. Daryl Mitchell scored 47, Glenn Phillips 39, and Rachin Ravindra who was dismissed for 49, went just shy of a fifty upon his debut. It was still a great performance by all the players from New Zealand as most of them contributed to this stunning victory