Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan suffers hairline fracture

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Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has suffered a hairline fracture of his right thumb and will bat on the final day of the Lord's Test only if "absolutely necessary".

It was initially thought that Dilshan had just a badly-bruised thumb after being hit twice by Chris Tremlett during his 193 in Sri Lanka's first innings.

But after remaining off the field yesterday, he was sent for more x-rays - which revealed bad news.

A team spokesman this morning confirmed: "He has suffered a hairline fracture. He will bat only if absolutely necessary."

Sri Lanka may yet be vulnerable in this second match of the npower series, as they proved in the first Test in Cardiff, if England decide to push for victory rather than settle for a draw today.