Summer draws to a close

A final word this summer on the Law Society Cricket Club, which a few weeks ago held its annual match against the House of Lords and House of Commons CC, sadly in the absence of cricket-loving Lord Archer, who was, as they say in the House, 'unavoidably detained'.

With the Society's team doing its impression of the England side - bowling poorly and dropping catches - Tory MPs Crispin Blunt and Hugh Robertson put on more than 200 for the third wicket, making it the first time in 29 years that the Lords and Commons team had two century makers in the same innings.

But rather than lay down in the face of this political attack, the Society made a good start in its chase to reach 280, even hitting John Redwood out of the bowling (but not politics, some may be sad to learn).

Star batsman Miles Harbot of Shoosmiths again led the way with a swashbuckling 85, while Kidd Rapinet's Richard Regler chipped in with a useful 63, but wickets fell steadily and the Society's team were forced to settle for a draw on 265-7.