Injury forces Outerbridge out of league clash

Bailey’s Bay skipper Stephen Outerbridge has been ruled out of his team’s crucial league clash with Southampton Rangers at Sea Breeze Oval on Sunday due to injury.

The senior national team vice-captain is nursing a swollen right knee.

He was injured while fielding for Somerset during last month’s Cup Match classic.

Outerbridge, who has missed Bay’s previous two league outings, collided with a boundary fence during the rain-plagued match at Somerset Cricket Club.

There are fears his injury may be more serious than originally diagnosed.

Outerbridge is being treated by national team physiotherapist Craig Brown but could be referred to a doctor should the swelling persist.  

The player’s injury woes could not have come at a worst time with Bay’s bid for a first Premier championship in nearly two decades hanging in the balance.

Bay trail Rangers by a single point with just two matches remaining in the 50 over campaign.

A win over Rangers on home soil this weekend will keep the East Enders’ league title hopes alive.

But a Rangers win will land Janeiro Tucker’s men the championship with a game to spare.

Leading Bay in Outerbridge’s absence is teenage opening batsman Terryn Fray.

Bay stalwart Irving Romaine admitted the loss of key batsman Outerbridge is a huge knock to his team’s title hopes.

He said: “It’s definitely a blow to lose a quality batsman such as Stephen who hasn’t played in our last two matches.

“But we have enough players we can call upon to get the job done against Rangers.”

Wedged between Bay and their first Premier title in 15 years is a Rangers side that they have not beaten in two seasons.

Romaine said: “We have been up and down in the past two seasons.

“We have the potential to do well in the league — we just have to do better against the bigger teams on a more consistent basis.” Both Outerbridge and veteran all-rounder Corey Hill still await their fate after appearing before a Bay disciplinary committee last week.

The duo face charges of bringing the game into disrepute.

The pair landed in hot water for making personal remarks about the ongoing impasse between rivals St. David’s and the Eastern Counties Cricket Association (ECCA).

The islanders withdrew from this year’s competition in protest over a string of differences with the ECCA, including the latter’s ratification of a proposal to stage the century-old event at Sea Breeze Oval.

When approached, Rangers player and coach Tucker declined to comment on Sunday’s potential league decider at Sea Breeze Oval.

Rangers are fresh off a recent one-wicket loss to PHC in an enthralling contest that went right down to the wire at Southampton Oval.

It was PHC’s third win over their rivals this season, having also defeated them in the Belco Cup final and the first round of the Western Counties.