CENTURION, March 7: Sri Lanka received a boost on Friday after it was revealed captain Sanath Jayasuriya had not broken his left forearm after being hit by Australia’s Brett Lee in their Super Six match.

Team officials said they feared Jayasuriya had suffered a forearm fracture but x-rays showed he had only suffered bad bruising, although he had chipped a thumb bone.

Sri Lanka team manager Ajit Jayasekera said: “He has a badly bruised left forearm.

“But a couple of balls before he was struck, he took a ball on the left thumb and the x-ray revealed a slight chip. He won’t be batting again today.”

Asked if Jayasuriya would be ready for the side’s next match against India on Monday in Johannesburg, he replied: “Wait and see.”

The news was a big boost for the side, even as they slip towards defeat against Australia at Centurion.

Sri Lanka physiotherapist Alex Kountouri had said earlier after Jayasuriya had been led from the field after facing five balls: “It’s not looking good, we suspect a fracture.”—Reuters