North Ballarat player Vikrant Dabra is expected to undergo surgery in Melbourne after collapsing during a Ballarat Cricket Association first grade match on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dabra was heading back to the crease following a drink break when his arm began to shake against Ballarat-Redan at Northern Oval. After appearing to struggle with his helmet, he fell to the ground, prompting officials to call off the contest with one over to play.
"I don't know whether it was stress but he seemed like he was trying to get his helmet on and all of a sudden he went to the ground and had what appeared to be a fit," umpire David Sproules said.
"Ryan Aikman came out running, he could tell pretty much straight away there was something wrong."
Aikman, Ballarat-Redan's wicket keeper, had been behind the stumps prior to the incident, watching on while Dabra collected 38 runs.
After realising something was wrong, he ran to Dabra while calling for an ambulance.
"I knew something wasn't right," he said.
"He was breathing but his eyes were rolled back and there was some frothing from his mouth. It wasn't a good sight."
Sproules said players and onlookers administered first aid to Dabra, who was unresponsive for about 15 minutes.
After leaving in an ambulance with his wife, North Ballarat head coach Darren Wilson confirmed Dabra had regained consciousness.
Wilson told The Courier on Sunday that Dabra was in a Melbourne hospital and would require surgery.
"He's been in touch with some of the players today just to advise them that's what is happening," Wilson said.
Dabra, a first-year player in the BCA, joined the Roosters after moving to Ballarat from Melbourne. He made an immediate impact for the club, scoring 113 runs in a round two win over Brown Hill.
He looked a chance to emerge the hero again on Saturday, with North needing 12 runs off six balls to win when the incident took place.
North, 6-154, were chasing a modified 166 in reduced overs after Ballarat-Redan made a first innings total of 9-223. Dabra finished unbeaten on 38 runs, while North captain Mick Nolan top-scored for the club with 44. Zac Jenkins led the way, scoring 50 with the bat before collecting bowling figures of 3-24. He found himself on a hat-trick after bowling Nolan and Jonah Healey in back-to-back balls.
