Hampshire Seniors experienced a reality check when they returned tanned from Cape Town to the freezing cold temperatures locally.

But they did so with some degree of satisfaction, having won three of their seven tour matches in South Africa.

They won at the historic Groot Drakenstein ground in the Winelands, pulled off a dramatic one-wicket win off the penultimate ball at Kelvin Grove, and beat Western Province CC by three wickets in their last game.

Andrew O’Kelly, Chris Batten and David Doust all made half-centuries for the Seniors, while Norman Stevens, who play Southern League cricket for Trojans in 1984 , made 55 against the Hampshire Vets for WPCC.

“The tour was an outstanding success,” reflected Seniors secretary John Knight. “Cape Town is a superb touring venue and we acquitted ourselves well, playing in some pretty oppressive heat, but on some stunning grounds.

“It was certainly preferably to spending a chunk of January in England!”