Injured Dhananjaya De Silva ruled out of Test series against S Africa

Centurion: Batsman Dhananjaya de Silva has been ruled out of the remainder of the South Africa tour after suffering a thigh injury, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Sunday.

Silva, who led Sri Lanka’s fine recovery, retired hurt on 79 during the opening day of the Test against South Africa on Saturday, and had to be taken off the field in a buggy.

Sri Lanka Cricket, in a statement confirmed that de Silva had sustained “a grade 2 tear on his thigh” which will keep him out of action for two weeks.

Sri Lanka, who finished the first day on 340/6, will thus be a player short and his absence will not only weaken the tourists’ top-six batting line-up but also their bowling attack as they will be unable to call on his right-arm off-spin.

The second match starts on January 3 in Johannesburg. The batsman will now hope to be fit for the first Test against England, which begins on January 14 in Galle. (UNI)