Centuries earn 14-year-old Alfie a Sussex batting award

The 14-year-old has received the trophy for the best batsman in the festival bowl under-14 competition. He was handed the prize by his grandfather, author Peter Hunter, at the friendly match with Cuckfield at Buxted Park on Sunday afternoon.

In four matches during the festival in August he scored 117 not out, 128 not out,143 not out and 52. That made a total of 440 runs and being out only once.

The Sussex Junior Cricket Festival is an annual event going back to 1967. Each age group has a separate week during the summer where they play four afternoon matches.

It was just a shame Alfie’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; however Alfie finished as the leading run scorer in the competition, and was more than 100 runs clear of the next highest run scorer.

Alfie is the fourth and possibly 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 substantiate.