Chapter 17: SVS VS DSP [2]
Raghav stood at the non-striker's end, his score a meager 11 runs for team.
[Score: 50/3 ( Over 13)]
The team total was 50 for 3 which means that they still needed 75 runs to win. The arrival of the leg-spinner signaled a change in strategy from the DPS captain.
He was done trying to blast through the "wall" with pace; now he was going to try and lure him into a mistake.
The DPS captain adjusted his field and brought a fielder in a Silly Point and a Short Leg side, crowding the new batsman.
He also placed an aggressive Slip behind the Wicket keeper. The message was clear: he was hunting for a wicket.
Raghav, now on strike, took his stance and his experience was on high alert for this bowler.
Over 13 (Bowler: Leg-Spinner)
[Ball 13.1]The spinner tossed the ball up, giving it air. It was a flighted delivery, landing on a perfect Good Length just outside Raghav's off-stump.
Raghav's 42-year-old mind recognized the classic leg-break. He moved his front foot forward, bat and pad together, and executed a simple Defensive Shot.
The ball met the middle of his bat and dropped harmlessly into the pitch. No run.
[Ball 13.2] The spinner, seeing Raghav's solid defense, pushed this one through flatter and faster, on a Full Length, trying to beat him for pace and trap him LBW (Leg Before Wicket).
Raghav's Batting techniques was enough as he adjusted, bringing his bat down in a firm block. No run.
[Ball 13.3] The trap. The bowler's wrist snapped over in that familiar, deceptive way. Raghav's mind screamed, 'Googly!' It was the 'wrong'un', delivered on a Good Length and spinning into him, not away.
An ordinary 12-year-old would have played the wrong line and been bowled or trapped. But Raghav, with his advanced IQ, read it.
He waited, letting the ball turn, and played a delicate, wristy Flick Shot through the gap on the Leg Side, past the grasping hands of the Short Leg fielder.
The Mid-Wicket fielder had to move, allowing them to run a comfortable single.
[Score: 51/3. Raghav: 12*(Over 13.3)]
[Ball 13.4 ] (Rohan on strike): Rohan, the more aggressive partner, faced a standard, flighted leg-break. He played a safe Defensive Shot to Cover. No run.
[Ball 13.5] The spinner made a mistake. He bowled a "loose" ball—a Full Toss on the leg stump.
Rohan's eyes lit up as he got down on one knee and executed a powerful Sweep Shot, hitting the ball hard behind square. It raced past the Backward Square Leg fielder for a much-needed boundary. Four runs!
[Score: 55/3.( Over 13.5)]
[Ball 13.6] The rattled spinner fired in a flat, Short Length ball. Rohan, pumped from the boundary, played a quick Pull Shot but hit it straight to the Mid-Wicket fielder.
They scrambled a single.
[Score: 56/3 ( Over 13.6) End of Over.]
The partnership was working. Raghav was the anchor, frustrating the bowlers and rotating the strike. Rohan was the aggressor, punishing any bad balls.
The DPS captain, seeing the score mount, brought back his main fast bowler.
Over 14 (Bowler: Fast Bowler)
[Ball 14.1 ](Raghav on strike)
The bowler, furious at the growing partnership, charged in and delivered a fast Bouncer, aimed right at Raghav's helmet. Raghav's experience picked up the length instantly. He didn't flinch; he just Ducked under it smoothly. The ball flew over his head to the keeper.
[Ball 14.2] The bowler followed up with a classic 1-2 punch: a spearing, in-swinging Yorker, aimed at Raghav's toes. Raghav, expecting it, brought his bat down in a solid block, digging the ball out and stopping it from hitting the stumps. It was a high-pressure, professional defensive play. No run.
[Ball 14.3] A Good Length ball on the stumps. Raghav played another simple Defensive Shot. No run.
[Ball 14.4] The bowler, desperate, strayed onto Raghav's legs. It was a Full Length ball, perfect for a Flick. Raghav's wrists rolled, and he played a gentle Flick Shot past the Square Leg umpire for an easy single.
[Score: 57/3. Raghav: 13.*]
The partnership slowly, painfully, dragged the score upwards. Raghav was a machine. Defend, defend, leave, flick for one.
Rohan hit a beautiful Cover Drive for four. The score climbed past 70, then 80. Raghav's own score crept up: 19... 24... 27...
They reached 95/3. They needed only 30 more runs from the last 4 overs. Victory was in sight.
The fast bowler returned, his face red with effort.
Over 17 (Bowler: Fast Bowler)
[Ball 17.1] (Rohan on strike)
The bowler delivered a Good Length ball, just outside the off-stump. Rohan, seeing the finish line, got greedy. He tried to smash the ball over the Mid-Off fielder. But he hadn't fully connected.
'WICKET! 'bowler call came with a shout.
He miscued the shot The ball went high in the air... and straight down the throat of the Mid-Off fielder, who took the simplest catch of his life.
[Score: 95/4. Rohan 32*(OUT)]
Catch out by a Mid off fielder.
=================
A stunned silence. Rohan walked off, hitting his bat on his pads in frustration.
The new batsman, a nervous boy from Class 7, walked in and the pressure was now entirely on Raghav.
He was batting on 27* and he needed to strike 3 runs for his quest and to guide his terrified new partner to victory.
[Ball 17.2] (New batsman on strike)
The fast bowler, energized, delivered a fast Yorker. The new kid barely got his bat down, blocking it. No run.
[Ball 17.3] Another fast ball. Another nervous block. No run.
[Ball 17.4] The batsman managed to get a single.
Score: 96/4. Raghav on strike.
The DPS captain brought the entire field into the Inner Circle to stop the single.
Ball 17.5 (Raghav on strike)
The bowler, smelling blood, pitched it up. It was a Full Length ball on middle stump.
Raghav could have blocked it but he needed his 30, so he took a small, confident step forward and played a firm On-Drive. He didn't try to hit it for four, just to pierce the field. It went past the bowler, too fast for the Mid-On fielder. The Long-On fielder ran in to cut it off. They ran one... they turned... and they came back for two.
[Score: 98/4. Raghav: 29.*(Over 17.5)]
[Ball 17.6] One run needed for his quest. The bowler, seeing him play the drive, pulled his length back. He delivered a Good Length ball on the off-stump. Raghav waited, rocked onto his back foot, and played a delicate, intelligent Cut Shot, guiding the ball into the gap between Point and Gully. It was an easy single.
[Score: 99/4. Raghav: 30.*]
Ding~
[Quest: Part 2: First Match Victory]
[Objective 1: Score a minimum of 30 runs... (Completed)]
[Objective 2: Contribute to a team victory... (In Progress)]
Raghav's mind cleared. His personal goal was met. Now, only the team's remained. 26 runs to win.
The nervous new batsman survived the next over. It was down to the last two overs. 19 runs needed. Raghav had the strike.
Over 19 (Bowler: Leg-Spinner)
[Ball 19.1] The spinner, under pressure, delivered a Short Length ball, a major mistake. Raghav rocked back and hit a powerful Cut Shot behind Point for Four!*
[Score: 109/4. Raghav: 35.* (He'd taken a single earlier).]
[Ball 19.2 ] The spinner overcorrected, bowling a Full Toss on the legs. Raghav simply played a Flick Shot past Square Leg. Four more!
[Score: 113/4. Raghav: 39.*]
The game had changed in two balls. The "wall" was now a scorer. He took a single on the next ball.
The nervous kid blocked the rest of the over.
Final Over. 11 runs needed.
========
Raghav was on strike.
The fast bowler was given the ball.
[Ball 20.1] The bowler went for a Yorker but missed, delivering a Full Toss on middle stump. Raghav didn't try to smash it.
He played a perfect, textbook Straight Drive. The ball shot past the bowler and the Mid-On fielder, racing to the Long-On boundary. Four!
[Score: 118/4. Raghav: 43.*]
Raghav adjusted his bat and let out a sigh~
' Just seven run more .... This will be my time to shine '
[Ball 20.2] They needed only 7 runs to win this match. The bowler, in a panic, delivered another Full Length ball.
Raghav hit it hard, this time to Deep Mid-Wicket. They ran hard. Two runs!
[Score: 120/4. Raghav: 45.*]
[Ball 20.3] Five more runs needed.
The bowler delivered a Good Length ball on the stumps. Raghav played a solid Defensive Shot with soft hands into the gap at Cover and ran. Single!
[Score: 121/4. Raghav: 46.*]
[Ball 20.4 ](New batsman on strike)Four runs needed and the entire field was in a tense atmosphere.
The kid was nervous but swung his bat wildly and missed. Dot ball.
[Ball 20.5 ]The kid swung again, making contact! The ball looped over the Mid-Wicket fielder. They ran... one... they ran... two!
[Score: 123/4] 2 runs needed from 1 ball.
[Ball 20.6] (New batsman on strike)
The entire field , fielder was set arround us as a Defence line.
The bowler ran in... and delivered a Good Length ball. The kid blocked it... and they ran! The Cover fielder charged, picked it up, and threw... but Raghav, with his stamina run and was already reached the crease but the throw was wide!
They run and got two runs.
[Score: 125/4!]
Match Won!
Raghav's teammates stormed the field, lifting the nervous kid onto their shoulders. Raghav, unbeaten on 46*, stood at the other end, leaning on his bat, breathing heavily.
Ding~
[Quest: Part 2: First Match Victory (Completed)]
[Analyzing Host performance: 46 runs (not out), 1 victory. Performance exceeds expectations.]
[Rewards: +0.3 Stamina, +0.2 Strength, 25 SP.]
=================
[Host: Raghav Roi]
[Age: 12]
[Stamina: 17.3]
[Strength: 13.2]
[Batting Technique: 14]
[Bowling Skill: 5]
[Fielding: 8]
[Cricket IQ: 27]
[System Points (SP): 40]
===================
The seniors, including Vikram and a stunned Gourav, walked over. Vikram clapped Raghav on the shoulder, a new, genuine respect in his eyes.
"You... you're not half bad, kid. You're a wall."
Coach Sarma watched from the boundary. He didn't cheer. He just permitted himself a small, satisfied smile and ticked something off on his clipboard.
Raghav had done exactly what he was told: he hadn't gotten out and in doing so, he had won them the match.
(To be Continued)