A large group of South Oxfordshire Amateurs cricketers and their families left the cold British winter for the warmer climes of Cape Town in South Africa for a two-week tour.

The results – two wins out of ten matches – may not be much to write home about, but the tour party of about 40 enjoyed themselves in the sun.

It was a memorable tour for West Witney batsman Andrew Smith, who achieved the rare feat of carrying his bat throughout a completed innings.

The 45-year-old left-hander made 24 not out as the tourists were dismissed for 69 in a 186-run defeat by Pinelands.

This was one of two serious mismatches. Shipton-under Wychwood's Ian Lewis produced the SOA's highest score of 84 against Garden Old Boys to finish as their top overall runs scorer.

Club colleague Jon Hartley, playing his first matches since undergoing a knee operation, produced a fine all-round display in the SOA's win over Groot Drakenstein, while another Shipton player, Russell Hayes, made a half-century in their other success, against Stellenbosch Scorpions.

SOA’s star performer was all-rounder Greg Pearson, who will be playing for Sandford St Martin next season, following his move from Buckingham.

RESULTS

SOA 127-8 (35ovs, M Fennell 34, J Senior 32), Fish Hoek 128-3 (25.1 ovs, C Miller 59).

SOA 146-6 (40 ovs, C Hutton 65, T Dawson-Squibb 3-21), Western Province 150-6 (31 ovs, J Hartley 4-16).

SOA 160-7 (35ovs, J Hartley 38), Groot Drakenstein 141-9 (35 ovs, R Berryman 3-24).

Garden Club Old Boys 215-6 (40 ovs, J Hall 3-23), SOA 162-7 (40 ovs, I Lewis 84).

Villiersdorp 213-6 (35ovs, M van Schalk 71), SOA 78 (33.5 ovs).

Pinelands 255-9 (40 overs, D Cobhill 3-45, M Wingfield Digby 3-68), SOA 69.

SOA 107-8 (35 ovs, G Pearson 32), Bellville 108-2 (19.5 ovs, H Theron 53no, H Deventer 50).

SOA 167-5 (35 ovs, J Hall 47no, J Hartley 32, C Hutton 30), Cape Town Wombats171-4 (29.5 ovs).

Durbanville 170-9 (35ovs, G Pearson 3-20), SOA 165-8 (35 ovs, G Pearson 50, I Lewis 35).

SOA 212-6 (40 ovs, W Wright 59, R Hayes 50, G Pearson 33no), Stellenbosch Scorpions 191 (39. 4 ovs, B van der Merwe 92, G Pearson 3-16, C Bedford 3-59).