MARTLEY opener Dom Buxton’s maiden century of 132 proved the difference in a 61-run victory at Himley in Worcestershire League Division Four.

The 19-year-old left-handed batsman from Worcester missed the opening seven weeks of the season after breaking a finger in a back-garden game of rugby.

But the law student has now put the setback behind him, hitting 22 fours and a six in his 120-ball performance.

Buxton’s efforts have earned him the accolade of Worcester News player of the week and he wins a £25 Fearnley Factory Shop voucher.

He said: “I was hit on the box in the first over against Himley and, while still recovering from the pain, I remember looking at the scoreboard to see I had made a quick 40-odd.

“It was my first century. I was out for 92 last year at Bromsgrove.

"The individual scores are shown on the scoreboard and, when I had reached 99, all I could think about was what happened at Bromsgrove last season. Thankfully, I was only on 99 for a couple of balls.

“I celebrated my first hundred by buying the team beers after the match with the last of my student loan.”

Buxton was supported by Dan Johnson (32 not out) and Tom Vale (26) as Martley were dismissed for 262.

Himley reached 201-9 with Mark Johnson taking 3-32, Dan Johnson 2-22 and Jim Basford 1-6 from 10 overs.

Buxton moved from Ombersley CC when 14 and has been in Martley’s first XI for three years.

“Originally, I came into Martley’s first team as a bowler but I had a stress fracture in my back when I was 15 or 16 so I became a batsman,” recalled the former Chantry School pupil.

“I dropped down to the seconds and moved back up to the firsts. Last season I scored in the region of 500 runs and I am trying to be a bit more consistent.

“We normally start the season badly and lose our first 10 games before getting on a winning run so I hope we can do that and climb the table. The second team are battling for promotion.”

Buxton added “I am one year into a four-year law course in Bristol and, as part of that, I’m going to Singapore for a year and won’t be playing for Martley for the whole of next summer.”

Martley captain Tom Vale said: “Dom composed himself superbly and his score ultimately proved the difference between the teams.

“And what’s most important is that he got a jug in for his teammates at the end.

“It was a cracking weekend for the club with both teams securing emphatic wins.

“A special mention should also go to second team all-rounder Stuart Watt for scoring his maiden half-century as he steered them to a nine-wicket win.”

Vale added: “Jim Basford bowled an incredible but dull spell of 10 overs 1-6. It was Dom’s first ever century and he was the 1st team’s player of the season last year."

Joe Adams took 5-26 and opener Stuart Watt (58) scored his maiden half-century as Martley seconds beat Himbleton by nine wickets. Dan Mayfield added 58no.

The Bob Gittins memorial match with Knighton-on-Teme was rained off.