14-year-old cricketer hits three centuries in a week - and nearly gets a fourth

Buxted didn’t quite make it to the final which was contested between Cuckfield and Middleton on Sunday, with Middleton coming out on top.

But Hunter, captain of the Buxted Park U14 team, scored tons in three games.

He didn’t quite make four consecutive unbeaten centuries but came close.

Sun-baked wickets and lightning-fast outfields made for plenty of run scoring and Hunter plundered 440 runs in the week.

His near-ten-hour vigil at the crease across the week included 128 not out as part of a winning run chase against Crowhurst Park, while 117 not out against East Grinstead and 52 against Lingfield set up draws.

Hunter’s highest score of the week (143 not out v Lewes Priory) couldn’t stave off defeat.

Results elsewhere meant Buxted Park didn’t progress in the competition but finished as leading run scorer in the competition, more than 100 runs clear of the next highest run scorer, and he scooped the U14 Bowl batting award

Hunter is the fourth and possibly the fifth generation of the Hunter family to play at Buxted Park.

His great grandfather played during the 1920s and it is highly likely that his great great grandfather played in the 19th century but there are no records to prove it.