Sri Lanka’s Chandimal taken for scans after shoulder injury

He hurt his shoulder after a hard landing while diving at the boundary

Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan after injuring his shoulder and neck while attempting to save a boundary during the fourth morning of the first Test against India in Galle on Tuesday.

Chandimal sprinted from deep midwicket towards deep square leg before launching himself horizontally to stop a shot from India’s KL Rahul in the fourth over of the tourists’ second innings.

He managed to save two runs but landed heavily on his shoulder, with his neck and shoulder twisting as he tumbled over the boundary.

The 35-year-old immediately collapsed on the other side of the rope and appeared to be in considerable discomfort as teammates, the team physiotherapist and doctor attended to him.

Chandimal was seen clutching his neck and head as well as his shoulder before eventually getting to his feet and gingerly making his way to the dressing room.

He was replaced in the field by substitute fielder Pasindu Sooriyabandara.

Sri Lanka could seek a concussion substitute if scans reveal a significant neck injury, with Sooriyabandara the squad’s reserve top-order batter.

Chandimal scored just four in Sri Lanka’s first innings, with the hosts dismissed for 284 in reply to India’s 462.

India therefore took a 178-run first-innings lead into the fourth day.