Cricket Ascend System

Chapter 2: Sunday Match

Shastri Strikers vs Azad Nagar Tigers

Format: 15 Overs

Boundary Rules

Direct terrace hit = OUT

Drain-side wall = FOUR

Sharma Electronics roof = SIX

By 9 a.m., Riverside Gully was packed.

Children sat on scooters.

Shopkeepers watched while pretending to work.

Balcony aunties secretly followed every ball while hanging clothes.

Even random passersby slowed down to watch.

Because local cricket in Shastri Nagar wasn’t just a game.

It was entertainment.

The Azad Nagar Tigers won the toss and chose to bat first.

And immediately took control.

Azad Nagar Tigers Batting

Sameer Malik wasn’t flashy.

That’s what made him dangerous.

He rotated strike constantly.

Manipulated gaps naturally.

Targeted weak bowlers immediately.

Even at seventeen, he already understood cricket better than most boys there.

The Shastri Strikers struggled instantly.

Ravi bowled well early, but Danish attacked Arjun brutally from the other end.

Two boundaries through square leg.

One massive six onto Sharma Electronics’ roof.

"Ball leke aa!" someone shouted immediately.

Kids sprinted after it.

Meanwhile Sahil stood nervously at deep midwicket. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Every catch felt terrifying.

Every ball near him felt dangerous.

Then Ravi tossed him the ball casually.

"One over."

"Bas runs mat dena."

Sahil nodded quickly even though his stomach tightened instantly.

The Tigers players grinned.

"Target 150 now."

"Free over mil gaya."

Sameer adjusted his gloves slowly before taking strike.

"No full tosses please."

"At least make it interesting."

Laughter exploded across the lane.

Sahil’s Over

First ball.

Too short.

Sameer rocked back instantly.

FOUR.

Second ball.

Attempted yorker.

Turned into full toss.

SIX.

The ball smashed loudly against a garage shutter.

"SHOT!"

Azad Nagar players screamed in celebration.

Sahil’s ears burned with embarrassment.

Third ball.

He tried bowling faster from frustration.

The ball slipped awkwardly from his fingers.

High full toss.

Sameer swung hard—

Mistimed.

The ball spiraled high into the sky.

Straight toward Sahil.

The entire gully went silent.

Simple catch.

Easy catch.

Exactly the type everyone expected him to drop.

And honestly?

Sahil expected it too.

The ball hit both hands.

Then bounced onto the cement.

Groans exploded instantly.

"OH COME ON!"

"How do you drop THAT?!"

Sameer laughed loudly.

"You’re hopeless, Sahil!"

The words hurt more than the mistake itself.

Because they felt familiar.

Too familiar.

The Tigers finished brutally.

Azad Nagar Tigers — 149/7 (15 Overs)

Batter

Sameer Malik

46(28)

Danish Khan

38(22)

Imran Sheikh

24(17)

Bowler

Ravi Mehta

3 over 25 runs 2 wicket

Arjun Singh

3 overs 34 runs 1 wicket

Sahil Choudhary

1 over 18 runs 0 wicket

"150 chase?" Arjun muttered while drinking water.

"We’re dead."

Nobody argued.

Because everyone thought the same thing.

Shastri Strikers’ batting lineup wasn’t built for big chases.

Especially not against Sameer’s bowling attack.

And the collapse started immediately.