Buxton Cricket Club Third XI have been promoted for the first time in the Club's history, wrapping up their season with a 4-wicket victory over Selston Town CC to be crowned Champions of DCCL Div. 9 North.
After drawing and losing the opening two games of the season, Buxton 3s went on an eight-game winning run through most of May and June – beating title-rivals Swanwick Hall at home on the last ball of the game being the pick of the bunch.
The winning streak ended away at Darley Dale, with Buxton needing 9 runs to win, lightening over the Clubhouse meant the players were brought off the pitch before the game was eventually abandoned. The following three games through July, all at home, were all cancelled without a ball being bowled due to heavy downpours.
When Buxton finally returned to action in August, Buxton 3s travelled away to Codnor CC, where despite opposition being bottom of the League, Buxton faltered to defeat by 14 runs, losing 6 wickets for 6 runs during the chase.
Knowing this essentially meant three "cup finals" in the season run in, Buxton 3s returned to winning ways against Clowne Town, batting first and declaring early to earn extra overs needed to bowl Clowne Town all out to secure maximum points.
Buxton 3s went on to beat Swanwick Hall, away, and securing the "double" over their nearest rivals to leave them needing a win in their final game of the season, at home to Selston to guarantee promotion. Swanwick Hall and Belper Meadows were to play their final games at a later date, but unable to overcome Buxton at the top of the table.
With arguably the strongest bowling attack in the league, backed up by a composed batting line-up capable of batting deep down the order and adding runs quickly, Buxton 3s were deserved winners of the Division 9N Trophy. With a record of Played 15, Won 11, Drawn 1, and Lost 2, with one game abandoned, Buxton 3s amassed 317 to win the League by just 4 points over their nearest rivals.
Perhaps the most notable achievement by this Buxton 3s side was regularly fielding 2-3 juniors in their XI each week with eleven under-19s featuring across the title-winning season. In particular, Bunting A (10) and Sanchez J (11) both made double figures in appearances, scoring over 200 runs combined, and taking 38 wickets between them.
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