Sri Lanka seamer Achini Kulasuriya has been cleared of serious injury but will continue to be monitored after being struck on the head while fielding during today’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Adelaide.
Kulasuriya was hit flush on the top of her skull when she misjudged a skied catch from Proteas power-hitter Chloe Tryon while stationed on the long-off boundary, and lay face down on the turf as worried teammates raced to her aid.
The incident occurred from the first ball of the game’s second super-over, which had been implemented purely as a practice measure after South Africa finished the earlier 20-over match victorious by 41 runs.
However, with the second game of the day’s double-header of warm-up fixtures (between New Zealand and England) not due to start for an hour or more, it was decided the teams would engage in a ‘trial’ super-over hit-out to ready themselves for the tournament proper.
The match was called off in the aftermath of Kulasuriya’s injury, with members of the Sri Lanka line-up and support staff reassuring Tryon that she was in no way to blame for the incident and that their injured teammates was okay.’
The 29-year-old remained motionless for several minutes as ambulance officers checked her condition and Tryon stood nearby with hands on head, clearly distressed as Kulasuriya was slowly lifted on to a stretcher.
She was then wheeled from the ground to a nearby ambulance and transferred to the adjacent Royal Adelaide Hospital for further tests.
A Sri Lanka team spokesman told cricket.com.au Kulasuriya had been responsive as she was carried from the field, and she was discharged from hospital late this afternoon and returned to the team’s Adelaide hotel.
Sri Lanka’s opening match of the T20 World Cup will be against New Zealand at the WACA Ground in Perth next Saturday.
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