Gallagher, 19, has been carrying the injury for several weeks and had been playing just as an opening batsman. He will miss Arundel's last five league games.

Arundel captain Will Clark said: "It's a shame he's going back, but it's the best for Seb to go home and get medical treatment. He did very well with the bat for us, and you never know if he might come back here again."

Gallagher scored 12 against runaway leaders Middleton on Saturday to move on to 495 runs for the season. Only Slinfold's Jonathan Augustus, with 607, has scored more runs than Gallagher in the division.

Arundel were the latest victims of Middleton on Saturday. It was Middleton's sixth successive win and 10th win from 13 games. But it was bottom club Arundel's 10th loss in 13 matches.

Gareth Bricknell, with a 121-ball 65, was the mainstay in Arundel's total of 203-8. Mark Barry added a quickfire 39 in a 55-run fifth-wicket stand, and George Gaskin and Bricknell added 47 for the seventh wicket. But Middleton reached their target in just 33.2 overs.

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