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Injured Amla adds to South Africa’s woes

Sri Lanka register 17-run win in second ODI to go 2-0 up.

Afp July 24, 2013

Amla will receive intensive treatment and rehab to give him the best chance of playing in the rest of the series, said the team’s manager. PHOTO: AFP

COLOMBO: A groin injury to star batsman Hashim Amla has added to South Africa’s woes as they attempt to prevent their limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka from falling apart.

The Proteas are already 2-0 down in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series after being thrashed by 180 runs in Saturday’s opener, before going down by 17 runs in a rain-ruined game on Tuesday.

In the second ODI, the hosts struggled to reach 223 for nine. South Africa were set a target of 176 from 29 overs under the D/L method but they suffered a major setback before their run chase as Amla could not open the batting. They slumped to 104 for five after 21 overs when rain returned for a third time with the tourists 17 runs short of their revised target.

Amla, who missed the first match due to a stiff neck, fell while fielding near the boundary line and was rushed to hospital, where scans showed a strain to the left groin muscle. Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Amla was being put through intensive treatment to ensure he is fit to play in the rest of the series.

“Hashim jarred his left knee into the ground while fielding, after which he reported discomfort in the pelvic and groin region,” said Moosajee. “Injuries of this nature usually take three to seven days to recover.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2013.

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