Janeiro Tucker, the Southampton Rangers player-coach, is recovering from a broken nose after bring struck in the face by the ball while batting in the match against St David’s on Sunday.

Tucker, who opened the batting with Kwame Tucker, attempted to turn a ball from spinner Derrick Brangman down the leg side, having earlier hit two sixes in the over. However, the ball came off the edge of his bat and hit him in the nose. The St David’s fielders immediately surrounded the batsman to offer assistance.

Tucker went off the field and after watching his team wrap up a seven-wicket victory in only 8.3 overs after being set 89 for victory, he went to the hospital where X-rays confirmed a fractured nose.

“There’s nothing I can do about it, time heals it,” Tucker said. “The ball hit the edge of the bat and hit me in the nose. There’s a little bit of bruising, which is normal.”

Earlier in the match, Tucker claimed three for 15 as St David’s were kept to 88 for eight in their 20 overs after a bad start saw them seven for three by the third over. Halfway through their overs they were 46 for five.

Rangers lead the Premier Division Twenty20 tables with five wins from five games. They also have the benefit of a superior net run-rate to nearest rivals Bailey’s Bay, as well as a game in hand.

They also have the Western Counties Cup final to look forward to on August 21 when they meet the other Premier Division side in the competition, Willow Cuts, at White Hill Field. Cuts dethroned PHC in the last round on Saturday.

“I haven’t even thought that far ahead, taking it one step at a time,” Tucker said of his availability for upcoming matches, which includes St George’s this weekend. Their game in hand is also against St George’s, from July 4.

“It will be a hard one, about four guys will be missing the game,” Tucker said.