Third days in Ranji cricket were dangerous.
Not because of the pitch.
Not because of fatigue.
But because everyone suddenly believed the match could be won.
---
## 🏟️ RANJI TROPHY – DAY 3
**Match:** Mumbai vs Karnataka
**Venue:** M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
**Situation:** Karnataka trailing, pressure building
---
Aarav jogged onto the field with the ball in hand, rolling it between his palms.
It was old.
Rough on one side.
Perfectly imperfect.
Exactly how bowlers liked it.
A senior slip fielder leaned toward him.
"Kid," he said, "you've already done enough this match."
Aarav glanced sideways.
"Then I'll do a little extra. Mumbai discount."
The slip laughed.
"Just don't give refunds."
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – DAY 3 MODE
---
**Ball Status:** 63 overs old
**Swing:** Reverse – active
**Pitch:** Flattening, but deceptive
**Template Focus:**
✔ Steyn – Bowling aggression (Primary)
✔ KL – Control
✖ AB – Resting (thankfully)
**Objective:**
➡️ Break partnerships
➡️ Keep run-rate strangled
➡️ Make batsmen doubt lunch plans
---
## 🏏 KARNATAKA – 2nd INNINGS
**Score:** 114/3
Lead: Narrow
Momentum: Fragile
Captain signaled to Aarav.
"From the pavilion end."
Aarav nodded and marked his run-up.
Short.
Sharp.
No drama.
---
## 🎯 FIRST OVER – STATEMENT
**Ball 1:**
Good length.
Late tail-in.
Batsman beaten.
Slip clapped.
**Ball 2:**
Shorter.
Climbed.
Pulled… mistimed.
Fell just short of mid-wicket.
Aarav sighed.
"Almost," he muttered. "Gravity again."
**Ball 3:**
Full.
Reverse swing.
*THUD.*
LBW shout.
Umpire finger went up.
Out.
Aarav pumped his fist once—controlled.
The batsman walked off shaking his head.
---
## 📊 BOWLING FIGURES (MATCH)
**Aarav Malhotra:**
- Overs: 14
- Maidens: 5
- Runs: 32
- Wickets: 4
---
## 🗣️ SLEDGE… AND REPLY
New batsman arrived.
Tall.
Confident.
Bat tap loud.
He looked at Aarav.
"Nice spell," he said. "But you'll tire."
Aarav smiled politely.
"You might," he replied. "I had breakfast."
The batsman blinked.
Slip fielder lost it laughing.
---
## 🏏 PRESSURE BUILDS
Mumbai tightened the field.
No easy singles.
Every run earned.
Aarav bowled shorter spells now.
Sharper.
Meaner.
One delivery jagged back violently.
Missed off stump by a whisper.
The batsman stepped back, eyes wide.
From mid-off, a senior shouted,
"Now he's thinking!"
Aarav nodded.
That was the plan.
---
## 📊 SCORE UPDATE
**Karnataka:** 168/7
**Target Likely:** Under 220
The dressing room buzzed.
Not loud.
Focused.
This was a winning situation.
---
## 😄 FUNNY MOMENT – THE MISFIELD
Aarav chased a soft push to cover.
Bent down.
Ball hit a crack.
Jumped.
Smacked him straight on the thigh.
He yelped.
Loudly.
Too loudly.
From square leg, someone yelled,
"BALL OF THE MATCH!"
Aarav limped theatrically.
"I'm adding this to my injury report," he said.
"Attacked by pitch."
Even the umpire smiled.
---
## 🏏 FINAL WICKETS
One more spell.
One more push.
Reverse swing at its peak.
**Ball:** Yorker
**Result:** Middle stump uprooted
Crowd finally found its voice.
Mumbai sensed it.
Smelled it.
Victory.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM LOG – MATCH IMPACT
---
✔ 5-wicket match haul
✔ Bowling under pressure
✔ Match-winning contribution
**Steyn Template:** 100% Unlocked
**New Trait:**
🔥 *Relentless Spell*
---
## 🌙 STUMPS – DAY 3
Karnataka all out.
Target set.
Modest.
Chaseable.
As players walked off, a senior put his arm around Aarav.
"You know," he said, "you're not annoying anymore."
Aarav looked up, hopeful.
"That's the highest praise I've received all week."
The senior laughed.
"Sleep well, kid. Tomorrow's yours too."
Aarav looked at the pitch once more.
Tomorrow.
Another test.
Another chance.
And this time—
Mumbai believed.
---
--chapter 47 end--