Redbacks' Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket hopes have taken a massive blow with the news in-form skipper Joey Coughlan's injured thumb has ruled him out until at least the new year.
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Coughlan has been the undisputed star of Bathurst City's summer so far and sits among the competition's leading run-scorers with 295 at a superb average of 59, belting a ton and two half-centuries along the way.
Scans revealed he has grade two ligament damage after copping a knock against Centennials Bulls a few weeks ago, although it was initially thought to be broken the news still wasn't was Coughlan was hoping for.
I've been cleared of any new fractures (but) have done grade two damage to the ligaments around the knuckle.
- Redbacks skipper Joey Coughlan
"My thumb is unfortunately worse than I had hoped," Coughlan revealed, through Bathurst City's Facebook page.
"I knew it wasn't good considering it hurt to bat, and it showed with scores of two and five after injuring my right thumb.
"I've been cleared of any new fractures, however have broken that thumb before and now have done grade two damage to the ligaments around the knuckle.
"It means the rest of my year is over. However, I'll hopefully be back after the Christmas break, ready to play the back half of the season.
"I'm looking forward to watching some of the young guys take their chance over the next three weeks in my absence."
Coughlan's absence will also be felt with the ball, as soon as this Saturday.
Tom Belmonte resumes unbeaten on 63 for CYMS, with the green and golds just nine shy of claiming first innings points against Redbacks, who could only muster 131 on last week's rain-affected opening day at Wade Park.
"It's CYMS that hold the key to the match at the moment only being eight runs off our total with five wickets in hand, it's poised to be very interesting," Coughlan said.
"If I were in their shoes with only one win I would be declaring straight after passing the score, try to take a quick 10 wickets... and hopefully have enough time left in the day to give it [an outright result] a crack.
"It has been almost impossible to grab an outright on the larger, flatter fields this season so far, so I don't know if they feel like trying it out."
The clash resumes at 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon, as do the remainder of the fifth round's games.
It remains unclear if Centennials (9-268) will bat on against Orange City at Morse Park 1 while Centrals, Cavaliers and St Pat's Old Boys are firmly in the box seat of their respective games against Rugby Union at Bathurst Sportsground, City Colts at Riawena and Kinross at Main Oval.
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