KANDY, Dec 5: Travelling England fans had a lucky escape when strong winds blew off the corrugated iron roof of their stand during the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.

No one was seriously injured while four were treated for minor cuts and bruises by medical staff at the Asgiriya Stadium in the morning session of the fifth and final day’s play, eyewitnesses said.

“There was no real sign that they were going to come off,” said Steve Lindley, who was hit on the back by part of a falling iron sheet in one of the makeshift stands around the ground. “There was a gust and three sheets all came off together. They came straight down on to the group of us sitting there.”

The area was evacuated and stadium workers quickly stepped in to repair the damage.

Some 3,000 English fans are currently in Sri Lanka.—AFP