Next was Shihab. He was another player who had transferred to St Alphonso. He also stood, ready to face the rest of the overs.
After the loss of Amir's wicket, Aditya became more cautious. Almost no boundaries occurred.
This continued until the beginning of the 15th over.
[ Aditya 72* (39) | Shihab 35* (31) | 117/3 ]
70 runs in 36 balls. The pressure was mounting. St Alphonso had to do something if they wanted to win.
Ali and Manish had decided Nakul would bowl next.
"This is a pressure over." Manish told Nakul. "And we are trusting you to bowl it."
Nakul, back when he was a part of Shrivastav's team in the inter house tournament was a highly confident person. If it was back then, he would have easily agreed, happy that he was given a chance at a crucial over.
But now, after he had seen the level of skill in the tournament, he felt that he wasn't worthy of this stage.
He had to bowl to a player who was in the form of his life, someone who regularly played for the district team. He wondered why Manish had chosen him.
The memory of Ali smashing every ball he bowled in the 19th over of the inter house tournament came back to haunt him.
"Shrivastav told us that you can do it." Told Manish. "To Alphonso, you are the only one who hasn't been scouted by them much. Show them why they should have scouted you."
Nakul got some of his confidence back. He got ready to face Aditya.
"If I take his wicket, I will have a game changing moment in this tournament." He thought to himself.
Nakul threw the first ball. A fast yorker, straight to Aditya's legs. Aditya simply sent it away for a single.
[ Aditya 73* (40) | Shihab 35* (31) | 118/3 ]
Shihab was up next. Nakul threw the second ball, a slower good length ball. Shihab sliced it, sending it flying away to mid off. Six.
[ Aditya 73* (40) | Shihab 41* (32) | 124/3 ]
Memories of his drubbing came back. He controlled himself, and then saw Ali looking at him, showing a thumbs up.
He calmed down. He bowled a cutter ball this time, which Shihab swung at, but missed.
After that, he then bowled a bouncer, which Shihab reluctantly dodged.
Shihab was tensed.
How was this unknown bowler somehow making his life harder?
[ Aditya 73* (40) | Shihab 41* (34) | 124/3 ]
Nakul saw it too. Now was the time. He put his fingers on the ball, bowling a wild and fast inswinger. He put all of his strength into it.
Shihab tried to get the bat onto the ball, but the ball instead smashed into his pads.
The umpire's finger went up.
Nakul celebrated, while Shihab walked back to the dugout.
Next was Ravichandran. After bowling decently against Ashwandeep, he came over to perform again, this time as a batsman.
Nakul bowled the last ball of his 4 overs, which was simply defended by Ravichandran.
The next two overs were bowled by Suraj and Chirag, who's balls Ravichandran and Aditya sent flying to the boundary every alternate ball.
[ Aditya 101* (47) | Ravichandran 15* (5) | 166/4 ]
All of Ashwandeep's bowlers were lost.
Nakul had finished his overs.
Suraj was too easy to hit against at that moment.
Chinnar Rai also had finished his allotted overs.
Chirag had to bowl the last over.
Only Anirudh was left.
By now, Aditya had reached his century. The traveling St Alphonso fans were clapping, hoping their star player would win them the match.
The Ashwandeep fans however, were nervous. One more wicket would end this match. But Aditya was completely set onto the pitch, and Ravichandran looked like he had no signs of stopping.
21 runs off 12 balls. A complete miracle brought about by Aditya after the early batting collapse of St Alphonso.
"Even in this life, his talent shines brightly." Thought Ali, seeing how the captain of his past life completely commanded the innings, before remembering something from his past life."But here, a light without protection will always be stolen."
Anirudh was to bowl the 19th over. He was the only bowler that was left in a proper state of mind.
"Anirudh, slow Ravichandran down. No wides." Said Manish.
"Got it." Said Anirudh.
The first ball was a yorker, right to Ravichandran's legs. Ravichandran angled his body, planning to hit a six off this ball. But the ball ran past his legs, before clattering into the wicket.
Ravichandran was out. Aditya lost a bit of his usual calm.
Next was Jacob. He got ready to try and take a single.
Anirudh threw the next ball. Jacob tried to defend it. But it hit his pads.
As it had happened many times before, the umpire's finger went up.
The whole dugout stood up. Everyone ran to celebrate, but both Ali and Aditya said at the same time, as if sharing one brain said, "The match isn't over yet."
Anirudh bowled to the next batsman, Shashwat. This time the ball edged his bat and was easily caught by Dalal.
Anirudh had done it. He had done a hattrick. The Ashwandeep crowd roared loudly, while Aditya looked at all of them, like a beast waiting to be unleashed.
20 off 9.
7 wickets gone. Only Aditya was left. Ashwandeep had effectively won the match.
Anirudh's remaining three balls were sent away for two singles and a dot.
18 off 6.
If anyone could save St Alphonso right now, it was Aditya.
And he stood at the crease, ready to unleash everything he had left.
"Just do your best." Said Ali.
Chirag nodded.
The first ball to Aditya was a full toss that was meant to be a Yorker. Aditya calmly moved forward, before banging it away for a six.
[ Aditya 108* (47) | Sandesh 1* (2) | 175/7 ]
12 off 5.
Chirag then bowled a bouncer, which Aditya pulled away for a four with a beautiful back foot shot.
[ Aditya 112* (48) | Sandesh 1* (2) | 179/7 ]
Chirag worried, but then calmed himself down.
He bowled a faster straight ball which was driven away for another four.
4 off 3. The match had come frighteningly close.
[ Aditya 120* (50) | Sandesh 1* (2) | 183/7 ]
Chirag this time bowled a slower ball, which edged Aditya's bat. It flew near Manish, who put his hand forward to catch it, but the ball landed onto his forearm instead.
CRACK. The loud noise of Manish's bone cracking echoed across the stadium.
Manish screamed in pain. Manish looked at Ali, before telling him, "You will be the vice captain. Win this tournament for me. You can do it."
Ali looked at him bewildered, before saying, "But what if we don't?"
Ali didn't get an answer.
Manish collapsed under the excruciating pain, before being taken by the physio on a stretcher.
The umpire called a dead ball. It was still 4 runs required off 3 balls.
Chirag got ready to bowl the 4th ball. He was visibly upset. He bowled a cutter ball, which Aditya took two runs from.
2 off 2.
Chirag in a bad state of mind had missed his line and length. The ball was right in the slot, ripe for the taking.
Aditya simply smashed the ball into the stands, and the St Alphonso supporters cheered.
Jahan and the man were surprised. Not only had Aditya single handedly grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat, he had done it while smashing a century.
"At least seven players here are youth prospects." Said Jahan. "Chinnar Rai, Nakul and Ravichandran all bowled impressively. Ali, Manish and Siddarth played well in their respective roles, and Aditya.. do I even need to say it?"
"Indeed you don't need to, sir." Said the man next to him.
"The talents this year are truly high quality, don't you agree?" Said Jahan. "I'd say this is Karnataka's golden generation."
TO BE CONTINUED
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