Cricket Ascend System

Chapter 28: The Last Stretch

Needed: 38 runs from 18 balls.

Normally—

that situation would terrify most gully teams.

But Riverside Royals looked strangely calm now.

Because Sahil Choudhary was still batting.

Faizan Ali gathered his fielders quickly.

"Don’t panic."

But honestly?

His own team already looked nervous.

And the reason was simple.

Every over Sahil survived—

the chase became harder to control.

Sahil tapped his bat lightly against the cement pitch.

Sweat rolled down his neck.

Breathing steady.

Heartbeat calm.

A few months ago—

he would’ve tried ending the match immediately.

Now?

He understood pacing.

First ball of the over.

Full outside off.

Sahil drove hard toward deep extra cover.

Only single.

Earlier Riverside crowds would’ve complained immediately.

Now they understood something too.

Sahil wasn’t randomly attacking anymore.

He was calculating.

Second ball.

Ravi shuffled across and scooped awkwardly.

Two runs.

Third ball.

Slower delivery.

Ravi mistimed.

Single.

Now Sahil back on strike.

Needed: 34 from 15.

The bowler hesitated slightly before running in.

That hesitation alone told Sahil everything.

Fear had entered.

Short ball.

Sahil pulled instantly.

Not fully middle.

Still—

SIX.

Deep square leg.

The crowd exploded again.

Faizan slapped his forehead immediately.

"Why bowl there again?!"

SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE

Connection Quality: 64%

Timing: 67%

Positive: ✔ Faster pickup reading ✔ Improved balance retention

Observation: Host shot stability improving under pressure.

Pressure.

That part mattered most.

Because earlier Sahil became reckless during tense chases.

Now?

The bigger the pressure became—

the calmer he looked.

Needed: 28 from 14.

Next ball.

Yorker attempt.

Low full toss instead.

Sahil drilled it straight past bowler.

FOUR.

No celebration.

Just walked back calmly.

And somehow—

that calmness scared fielders more than aggression.

By the end of the over:

Riverside Royals — 151/5

Needed: 20 from 12 balls

Sahil: 74* (32)

The crowd buzzed constantly now.

People had stopped discussing whether Riverside could win.

Now they discussed how far Sahil might finish it.

Meanwhile—

inside Sahil’s mind—

another notification appeared unexpectedly.

MISSION 3 UPDATE

Shadow Swing Mission nearing completion.

Remaining Valid Repetitions Required: 1,897

System Observation: Host swing efficiency improved significantly.

Sahil smiled slightly seeing that.

Twenty thousand swings.

Honestly insane.

But maybe worth it.

Faizan brought himself back into bowling attack now.

Best player handling pressure himself.

Smart decision.

First ball. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Slower off-cutter.

Sahil waited longer—

then launched toward long-on.

HIGH.

Very high.

Fielders settled underneath confidently.

Then panic hit them instantly.

The ball kept traveling.

Over boundary.

SIX.

Faizan stared upward blankly afterward.

"That wasn’t even timed..."

Even Sahil looked slightly shocked himself.

SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE

Connection Quality: 46%

Timing: 49%

Boundary Cause: Rare elite raw power generation.

Important: Host currently producing above-normal boundary distance despite incomplete batting mechanics.

Incomplete mechanics.

And yet this strong already.

That thought felt dangerous.

Needed: 14 from 11.

This time Faizan adjusted smarter.

Wide yorker.

Dot ball.

Good execution.

Second delivery.

Again wide outside off.

Sahil reached awkwardly.

Single only.

Now Ravi on strike.

Needed: 13 from 9.

Ravi surprisingly smashed a boundary through point.

Crowd erupted again.

Needed: 9 from 8.

Single next ball.

Now Sahil back.

Needed: 8 from 7.

Faizan wiped sweat from forehead slowly.

Everyone in Riverside already knew what Sahil wanted.

Finish with six.

Always six.

The bowler ran in.

Good length.

Middle stump.

Sahil planted front foot—

and swung.

CRACK.

The sound alone ended the match.

The ball disappeared over long-on boundary instantly.

Absolute chaos erupted across Riverside Gully.

Kids screaming.

Players running inside ground.

Someone threw slippers accidentally during celebration.

Even Ravi tackled Sahil laughing.

FINAL SCORE

Riverside Royals — 173/5 (14 Overs)

Won by 5 wickets

SAHIL CHOUDHARY

81* (37 Balls)

7 Sixes

5 Fours

Strike Rate: 218.91

As teammates celebrated wildly around him— ƒгeewёbnovel.com

the system appeared quietly one more time.

MATCH IMPACT REVIEW

Pressure Finishing: Excellent

Boundary Conversion: Elite Potential

Current Role Evolution: POWER HITTER → FINISHER

Then another line appeared slowly underneath.

SYSTEM NOTICE

Host reputation increasing rapidly within local cricket network.

Future match difficulty likely to rise.

And honestly—

Sahil wouldn’t have it any other way.