BEN SYMCOX is expected to play his part in Birdlip & Brimpsfield CC's title-chasing run-in despite being knocked unconscious in the match against Hatherley & Reddings III on Saturday.

Symcox, who opens the batting for the Readers Gloucestershire League Div 2 leaders, was fielding at short mid-on when taking the full force of a drive just above his forehead.

He was knocked out and the match was abandoned as he was taken by ambulance to the A&E department of Cheltenham General Hospital.

Team-mate and great friend Toby Harris, who accompanied Ben to hospital, admitted the team had been very concerned about their colleague.

"He was knocked out cold for about a minute and it was all very worrying," said Harris.

"He spent three or four hours in hospital but he is fine now. He was nauseous and sick at the time, which is normal after concussion."

Birdlip & Brimpsfield head the table from Poulton and Stone and are keen to avoid a repeat of the wet summer of 2012 when they threw away the title on the last day.

"We just needed two points from a possible 22 in the final match of the season," said Harris. "Instead, we were bowled out for 50, which is not like us at all.

"The two chasing teams both scored maximum points and so pipped us to the title.

"We travel to third-placed Stone on Saturday which is obviously going to be a tough game," he added.

But the key match is the penultimate one of their season on August 24 when they entertain main rivals Poulton who boast arguably the league's best player in Ryan Higgins.

In the fixture at Poulton, the hosts won by 59 runs with Higgins scoring a match-winning 76.

"Poulton have really got in the mix lately and we know Ryan well. I think that game will determine who wins the championship," said Harris.