WORCESTERSHIRE hope injured all-rounder Brett D’Oliveira will return for the finale of the season.

The white-ball vice-captain was bowling when he fractured his right thumb fielding a return shot from Derbyshire’s Leus du Plooy in the Vitality Blast at Blackfinch New Road.

He went for an X-ray last Thursday then a specialist in Leeds on Friday and is earmarked to be back playing in six weeks.

Worcestershire head of sports science and medicine Ben Davies said: “Brett got struck on his right thumb during the Vitality Blast match against Derbyshire.

“He went for an X-ray and an ultrasound the next morning which revealed a fracture at the base of his thumb.

“He’s also got a grade two sprain of one of the ligaments in his thumb as well.

“Brett saw a specialist in Headingley on Friday during our game against Yorkshire and was fitted with a special cast and his return to playing will be around six weeks.

“He will probably make it back for the last three Championship matches and finals day (in the Blast) if we get there.”

D’Oliveira had been in fine form since he came back into the side for the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match with Sussex at Kidderminster in late June.

He has captained Rapids to second spot in the T20 North Group.