Loye to miss Twenty20 finals day

Mal Loye, Lancashire's prolific batsman, will have to miss the Twenty20 finals day this Saturday, and will probably be out of action for two to three weeks, following an injury to his Achilles tendon.

"He's had a scan and the initial diagnosis is that Mal has a small tear in his Achilles," said Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's cricket manager. "It means he is likely to be out for two to three weeks. If he has an excellent recovery spell then maybe a return in 10 days or so is a possibility.

"The concern when something goes around the Achilles is whether there's been a full-scale rupture, because that could be anything up to nine months out. That's not the case here, and with careful management we should be getting Mal back on the park soon."

Stuart Law and Warren Hegg, Lancashire's captain, are both recovering from injury, and it is unknown whether they will be fit for the Twenty20 finals. Dinesh Mongia's official contract runs out on Thursday, but it can be extended if required and he will remain with the squad if Law is unable to play on Saturday. Lancashire face Surrey, the current champions, in the semi-final of the Twenty20 Cup at Edgbaston.