Miller & Coke's Lord's thriller

The trade's top cricketers put on a thrilling display at Lord's the other day, when Coca-Cola (captained by Andy Slee) triumphed over Miller Brands (captained by Ed McKenna, as his boss Nick Miller was just out of crutches) in a match that saw 530 runs scored, amazing catches held and quite a few pints downed at dinner in the pavilion later.

Man of the Match was Martin McCague, national sales manager for Shepherd Neame, who hit an explosive 115 for Coca-Cola and took 4-47. The former England fast bowler was ably assisted with classy knocks by David Bonney, Brains' commercial director, with 44, and Kevin Chamberlain, Young's property manager, who finished 49 not out.

Earlier in the day, Lawson Mounstevens, national sales director at S&NUK, booked in for his usual authoritative 50 odd for Miller Brands, and SAB's Chris Rimmer also reached his half century.

William Lees-Jones wielded his willow brutally, hitting 21 in 12 balls. But all were put in the shade by Steve Crawley's Bothamesque hitting - 84 off 44 balls, including a "Roger Federer" over (6,4, 6,4, 6,1), which helped win him the Athlete of the Match award.

Other highlights were a stunning boundary catch by Jonathan Neame, top-class bowling from Andy Slee and Martin Dinkele, a surprise guest appearance by former England spinner Phil Tufnell, who came on for a rather rusty over, and a tour de force performance by guest dinner speaker England selector Geoff Miller.

Snifter was also rather tickled by his "Champagne mo-ment" award for an eyes-shut slog that went many a mile.