Probably the best cricket, certainly the most competitive match of the I'Anson Centenary Week, was seen in the fixture with an MCC XI at Grayshott on Wednesday.

The Old England match of the day before (reported last week) had been a delight, but was played at a pace best suited to the veteran ex-internationals.

The MCC XI, a formidable line-up of club cricketers, had come to win and when, after amassing 211-3 in only 46 overs, they had reduced the league side to 14-3, an early finish seemed in prospect.

But the I'Anson not only made a fine recovery, they got into a position to win the game, with 30 runs wanted from the last six overs. However, the loss of Paul Osborn and Nick Ayling in quick succession, following a stand of 86, signalled a dramatic collapse and the last five wickets fell for six runs.

Earlier, Alastair Lindsey-Clark had taken a wicket with the third ball of the match, but the I'Anson bowlers had to wait a long time for their next success. Jamie Butler of Southport, having seen the shine off the ball, put the attack to the sword with a scintillating 159 not out, 27 coming off one over from the unfortunate Geoff Ingrams. Dropped four times, he cleared the long Grayshott boundaries no less than nine times and went from 100 to 159 off 18 balls.

The MCC had a father-and-son opening attack in Chic and Andrew Stedman of Farnham and it was Stedman Jnr who plunged the I'Anson into trouble with a spell of 3 for 17 in seven overs.

Ashley Cook led the recovery with a patient 51 and then Osborn and Ayling took the attack to the bowlers with some attractive stroke-play.

Osborn showed little sign of a recent appendix operation, driving with great power, while Ayling achieved the rare feat of hitting a 'seven' after a fielder had used a discarded wicketkeeper's glove to gather the ball.

But it all changed when Osborn holed out off Sethi, the spinner, for a free-scoring 71.

Ayling was brilliantly caught by Bedford off the same bowler and skipper Mark Sobey's rapid departure spelled the end for the I'Anson, with Bowes and Sethi whipping out the tail in double-quick time.

This match was sponsored by Phil Bates of Grayshott Pottery and inscribed goblets were presented to all the players.

The cricket, to put it mildly, was less competitive in the Lord's Taverners game at Frensham on Friday.

It was a splendid social occasion, but the game never set the pulses racing.

Those in the big crowd expecting John Snow to deliver some of the shells that had destroyed the Australians back in the '70s were to be disappointed. The loping run-up, the chest-on delivery were familiar, as was the mane (now grey) of hair, but the ball came down with all the force of a beach ball.

Snow and David Capel certainly never troubled Ashley Cook and Andy Sale who went on to post 106 for the first wicket.

Simon Whitley and John Kohler savaged various trundlers, including actor John Alderton and a certain Bill Wiggins who has the distinction of once being married to Joan Collins, and the I'Anson amassed 288-5 in their allotted 35 overs.

I'Anson skipper Ray Clarke had the tricky task of choosing the right tactics to deal with a side of wildly fluctuating ability. Capel, Chris Tavare and Mike Denness needed no introduction; other batsmen would have struggled to get into a WI side.

He solved one problem with a superb return catch to dismiss Capel after the former England all-rounder had hit 35 off 10 balls. Wickets then fell rapidly, probably too rapidly for the I'Anson's liking – they had to make a game of it – and it was no doubt a relief to find England Ladies player Barbara Daniels, a late inclusion for the Taverners, in such fine form.

She hit 17 boundaries in a dashing 78 and certainly put the former England men in the shade.

The Taverners had saved Tavare and Denness for a final push. But Graham Senior had Tavare caught for 22 and Denness, the former England captain, was stumped by Neil Poulter for 25, giving Barry Rapley his fourth wicket. The Taverners were all out for 211 in the final over.

The Centenary Week closed on Sunday with a match against England Ladies at Hindhead. By a happy coincidence, this fixture also marked the 50th anniversary of a famous game, also played at Marchant Hill sports ground, between Molly Hide's XI and the touring Australian women of 1951.

Led by current captain Clare Connor, the England side included four other ladies who have played against the Australians this summer, plus other 'A' team players and up-and-coming youngsters.

The ladies impressed with their accurate bowling and athletic fielding and the I'Anson were hard pushed to get a decent score on the board.

The Grayshott pair of Andy Wheble and Richard Baker got going early on and the league side were 140-4 after 32 overs.

But the ladies came back fighting. And with the umpires upholding three lbws – testament to the straightness of the bowling – the I'Anson lost their last five wickets for 29 runs. Yvonne Craven bowled particularly well and celebrated in fine style after bowling Wheble for 46.

But the ladies failed to do themselves justice with the bat. By playing calmly down the line, Caroline Atkins and Mandi Godliman withstood the new-ball attack of Geoff Coombe and Ali Lindsey-Clark, but only nine runs came from six overs before Wheble broke the stand with a spectacular one-handed catch at square-leg.

The ladies were unhappy against the naggingly accurate seam of Pat Murphy (4-7 in 6 overs) and the tempting spin of Mike Eddleston who induced a series of false shots on the slow pitch.

At 64-8, England Ladies needed to salvage some pride. Fortunately for them, Dawn Holden came good with a hard-hitting 39 and the ladies recovered to reach three figures before Eddleston claimed the final wicket. The I'Anson won by 64 runs.

Hindhead CC did an excellent job of staging this game in not the best of weather.

Club chairman Steve Marshall presented Clare Connor with a commemorative plate and asked her to cut a replica of the 1951 cake. The England captain, in turn, presented Hindhead with a plaque and wished them good luck in their quest for a new pavilion. "The hospitality has been superb," she said. "I'm just sorry we couldn't put up more of a competitive batting performance."

l Laura Hill, a promising 14-year-old player from Chiddingfold, made an appearance as substitute for the England side.