Scoot fails to land loot with poor timekeeping to boot!

A few weeks ago this Reporter related tales of Father Scootermas, the almost mythical beardy creature who offers games of cricket to good boys and girls on Sundays during the Summer. However on this occasion it was the beardy provider himself who caused consternation.

You see with 15 minutes to go Scootermas had not landed in his 4 wheeled rustbucket sleigh. Just imagine, if it was 15 minutes before your kids wake on December 25th you'd be calling Norad to double check where Father Christmas was and track the stink of Rudolph do do's. However the team didn't panic, the Vice Skipper tossed the coin, won and elected to bat before Scootermas finally arrived telling stories of how he got stuck in the chimney of his local co-op.

A late change in the batting order saw Mandeep and Dunkers open the batting with Seth three , Manu 4 and Yak 5. Unbelievably Yak only faced one ball and number 6 and below just accumulated pad rash. It's well known Scootermas doesn't drink alcohol but the team could have used that time in the sunshine to put out plenty of carrots and mincepies.

185 for 2 is a rare score. Mandeep clobbered 34 at a run a ball, Dunkers scored an unbeaten 50, Seth played another quality knock for his 35* and Manu clobbered a breezy 37. This left Yak his one delivery when all he presumably wanted for Scootermas was better joint supports and access to a barrell of Guinness.

The Egerton reply was perfectly paced but wickets fell at regular intervals to keep Fleckney interested. The Mole lived up to his name by hitting the dirt twice hard and retired to first slip after just over three overs, one wicket, and an ankle more stiff than an undiluted Scootermas eggnog.

At 140 for 7 (8 if you include poor Rhys Carnell with a damaged hand) the match held in the balance but that next vital breakthrough didn't arrive. Even with two wanted to win a lofted shot dropped just over Mike Dunkley to win the game but had it been taken , and for a while, that looked entirely possible , it could yet have been brown trousers time.

So cricket playing boys and girls. Remember to get your Scootermas requests in early, as early as possible because you never know when the man himself might get stuck at the Co-Op buying his edition of Crap Time Keeper Monthly