Just to prove that exciting matches can exist outside Twenty20 and limited overs cricket, the South Oxfordshire Amateurs produced a series of close finishes in their 75th anniversary week at Standlake.

All four matches went to the last over, and two of them to the last ball, the SOA drawing with Gloucestershire Gypsies with the scores level, and then defeating the President's XI by three wickets to conclude the week.

Highlights, in a week where bat normally dominated ball, included a century by Paddy Daniel and two classy half-centuries from Anthony Prior-Wandesforde.

"Cricket was surely the winner," said SOA president Robert Florey in his speech at the end of the week.

Florey's father Pat, who died earlier this year was club president in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of1983.

The club has a rich history of characters and amusing incidents, which are captured in the 'Seventy Five years of the SOA', a well-produced booklet to coincide with the week.

One of the traditions of the SOA is not to have averages. Instead, pithy reports of each game are published annually.

Amusing extracts from the reports make this booklet - with Tony Lurcock updating David Money's original 50 year history - a most entertaining read.

The booklets can be obtained from Robert Florey, Rectory Farm, Northmoor, Oxon OX29 5SX, by calling 01865 300207 or e-mailing pj.florey@farmline.com

75th ANNIVERSARY WEEK SCORES

SOA 244-9 (J Head 71, A Smith 43), Wiltshire Queries 245-6.

Old Bloxhamists 185-1 (J Griffiths 102no, N Renolds 60no), SOA 180 (A Prior-Wandesforde 64, J Anson 35).

Gloucestershire Gypsies 262-5 (B Mason 76), SOA 262-9 (P Daniel 112, M Milligan 59).

SOA President's XI 252-7 (I Caunce 58, J Florey 43, P Daniel 40, M Watts 32), SOA 253-7 (A Prior-Wandesforde 70, C Brain 45, R Hayes 34).