ENGLAND may have whitewashed India and become the world’s number one Test team, but theirs was not the only cricketing achievement last month. On the last weekend of August on a blustery day in Burton’s Court in front of Chelsea’s Royal Hospital the art trade took on Christie’s in the annual 35-over battle for the Lee Plate.
The art trade won the toss and their captain, Christopher Kingzett of Agnew’s, elected to bowl. A good move which soon had the auctioneers in all sorts of trouble, although David Stead distinguished himself with an admirable 62. Elsewhere wickets fell fast, with Richard Cave of Mallett doing most damage, taking three quick wickets in a single over. Christie’s were all out for 130 and the first to reply for the trade was skipper Kingzett who made what an observer described as a “characteristically elegant” 22. 
A good bowling spell from Tim Carney and Geordie King and fine wicket keeping from Christie’s captain Nick Finch kept the dealers in check for a while until Jamie Rountree of Rountree Fine Art got them under way with a bustling 37 before succumbing to the bowling of Christie’s South Kensington chairman Nic McElhatton. 
The game closed with Ali Evans making 36 and Spencer Ewen 13 not out, bringing victory by four wickets to the art trade, who have now won the Lee Plate four years running.