Victorian wicketkeeper Sam Harper was taken to hospital after being struck in the head by South Australian Jake Lehmann’s bat while standing up to the stumps in the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.

Lehmann pulled a short ball from spinner Jon Holland and, in his follow-through, accidentally hit Harper, who was wearing a helmet at the time.

The 20-year-old fell to the turf and appeared in some discomfort, doubling over and coughing as he walked off the field with assistance from medical staff.

An update from Cricket Victoria late Saturday afternoon said Harper – who has been ruled out of the rest of the match – would spend the night at Royal Adelaide Hospital under observation, but a CT scan had cleared the ‘keeper of any bleeding or bone damage.

An extended lunch break was taken after the injury.

Victorian coach Andrew McDonald told ABC radio the umpires had delayed the second session to give the players from both teams time to compose themselves after the incident.

He said the two captains discussed whether Victoria should be allowed a replacement under extenuating circumstances. Concussion substitutes are permitted in domestic one-day matches under Cricket Australia’s new Concussion and Head Trauma Policy, but the same rule does not apply to first-class and international cricket.

“(SA captain) Travis Head had a think about it and apparently there was some sort of vote in their dressing room, but the end result is we won’t be able to replace (Harper) and we’ll be playing with 10,” McDonald said.

“It’s unfortunate … but that’s ultimately South Australia’s decision.”

UPDATE | The latest on Sam Harper after the incident earlier today. Wishing him all the best! >>> https://t.co/3m1YpuhlP1 pic.twitter.com/evijwY28Th

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) February 11, 2017

SA was 9-168 at the time of the incident, and eventually was dismissed for 178, six runs shy of Victoria’s first-innings total.

Lehmann added ten runs after lunch before being the last man out, top-scoring with 92.

It has been a bad summer for wicketkeepers, with Melbourne Renegades and ex-Test gloveman Peter Nevill crowned by a bouncing ball and hit by a flying bat during the Big Bash League.

– with AAP