Free Web NovelChapter 43: Momentum
After the Green Valley match—
Shastri School’s confidence rose sharply.
Not arrogance.
Belief.
---
Because now the team had something dangerous.
Stability at the top.
Kabir controlling innings.
And Sahil finishing aggressively.
---
For the first time—
their batting lineup actually looked complete.
---
Even other schools had started preparing specifically for Sahil now.
Boundary riders placed deeper before he even arrived.
Spinners bowling wider lines.
Fast bowlers refusing predictable lengths.
---
And honestly?
Sahil loved it.
Because respect from opponents felt addictive.
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Two days later—
another practice fixture got arranged quickly.
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Friendly Match 4
Shastri School vs Modern Public Academy
Venue: Modern Public Ground
Format: 20 Overs
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Modern Public had reputation for aggressive cricket.
Fast scoring.
Risky batting.
Constant pressure.
---
Their captain won toss and chose batting immediately.
And honestly—
their start looked terrifying.
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Powerplay: 62/1 in 6 overs.
---
Sahil fielded near deep square leg watching boundaries constantly.
The pace of scoring surprised him.
This wasn’t cautious school cricket.
This was attack-heavy cricket.
---
Coach Verma remained calm though.
"Wait for middle overs."
And he was right.
---
Once spin entered—
Shastri clawed back beautifully.
Kabir took stunning catch.
Aman grabbed two wickets.
Even Sahil saved important boundary with diving stop.
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FIELDING REVIEW
Reaction Speed: Improved
Positive: ✔ Faster ground approach ✔ Better pickup balance
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That tiny praise from system oddly satisfied him.
Because fielding progress felt painfully slow compared to batting.
---
Modern Public still finished strongly though.
---
Final Score: 178/7 in 20 overs.
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Big target.
But chaseable on good wicket.
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Inside dressing area—
Coach Verma spoke calmly before chase began.
"No panic."
Then his eyes shifted toward top order.
"Platform first."
Finally he looked toward Sahil.
"If we’re ahead after 10 overs..."
A slight pause.
"...finish aggressively again."
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Sahil nodded immediately.
He understood now.
Different match situations required different gears.
---
The chase began brilliantly again.
Openers attacked loose bowling.
Quick running created pressure.
Kabir entered early and stabilized immediately.
---
By 10 overs:
Shastri School — 93/2
Needed: 86 from 60 balls
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Excellent position.
And exactly then—
Sahil walked in.
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Coach Verma didn’t even speak this time.
Just made attacking gesture with hand.
Enough understood.
---
The system appeared instantly.
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MATCH CONDITION ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Required Rate: Manageable
Resources: ✔ 8 wickets remaining ✔ Set batter at other end ✔ Flat batting surface
Recommended Mode: PRESSURE ACCELERATION
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First ball Sahil faced—
medium pacer attempted slower yorker.
Missed slightly.
---
WHIP.
SIX.
Deep midwicket.
---
The timing sounded brutal.
Even Modern Public fielders reacted immediately.
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Second ball.
Shorter outside off.
CUT.
FOUR.
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Suddenly—
the required rate crashed immediately.
And that was what separated dangerous finishers from normal hitters.
One over changed entire chase pressure.
---
Kabir walked toward him smiling slightly.
"You enjoy this too much."
Sahil grinned.
"Little bit."
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The next overs became a nightmare for bowlers.
Because Sahil mixed aggression with patience now.
That combination felt unfair sometimes.
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Boundary.
Single.
Dot ball.
Two runs.
Then sudden six again. ƒreewebɳovel.com
---
No reckless chaos.
Calculated damage.
---
By the 15th over:
Shastri School — 146/2
Needed: 33 from 30 balls
Sahil: 41* (18)
Strike Rate: 227
---
Modern Public captain looked frustrated now.
Every bowling change failed.
Every defensive field got broken eventually.
---
Then came the shot of the match.
Fast bowler attempted hard-length delivery into body.
Good ball.
Very good ball.
---
Sahil moved slightly across.
Stayed balanced.
Then upper-pulled over backward square leg.
SIX.
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The entire ground reacted instantly.
Even players from other practice nets looked over.
Because that shot combined timing and power perfectly.
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SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Connection Quality: 96%
Timing: 95%
Perfect Timing Pathway Progress: 53 / 1000
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Sahil’s eyes widened slightly seeing that.
Ninety-five timing quality.
His best yet.
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And the scary part?
That shot didn’t even feel forced.
It felt natural.
---
For the first time—
Sahil could genuinely feel the gap between old power hitting...
and real batting.
That upper-pull changed the match completely.
Not mathematically.
Mentally.
---
Modern Public Academy looked defeated after that shot.
Because good deliveries were disappearing too now.
Not only mistakes.
And that was terrifying for bowlers.
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Match Situation
Shastri School — 152/2 after 15.2 overs
Target: 179
Needed: 27 from 28 balls
Kabir: 58* (47)
Sahil: 47* (20)
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The crowd near boundary had grown larger now.
Students from nearby practice areas.
Junior players.
Even teachers standing outside pavilion.
Everyone wanted to watch Sahil bat.
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Not because he always scored biggest runs.
Because his batting created moments.
Explosive moments.
---
Modern Public captain gathered fielders again.
Third deep field change in two overs.
Long-off wider.
Square leg deeper.
Third man finer.
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Kabir noticed and smirked slightly.
"They’re setting field like T20 death overs."
Sahil adjusted gloves calmly.
"Good."
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The next over began with spin.
Probably desperate gamble.
---
First ball.
Wide outside off.
Sahil stretched and took single only.
No forcing.
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That small decision mattered.
Because old Sahil would’ve attempted impossible six immediately.
Current Sahil understood match control better.
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Kabir rotated strike twice afterward.
Then gave Sahil strike again.
Needed: 24 from 24.
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The spinner slowed pace dramatically.
Flighted.
Tempting.
Trap ball.
---
Sahil advanced down pitch halfway—
then stopped.
Adjusted.
Defended softly back.
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The spinner blinked in surprise.
Because that restraint itself created pressure now.
---
Next ball quicker and flatter.
Sahil rocked back instantly.
PULLED.
FOUR.
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Perfect gap.
No risk.
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SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Connection Quality: 91%
Timing: 89%
Positive: ✔ Excellent adjustment speed ✔ Shot selection maturity improving
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Needed: 20 from 22.
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The spinner overcorrected next delivery.
Too full.
Too straight.
---
Sahil’s front foot planted smoothly.
Bat came down cleanly.
CRACK.
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SIX.
Straight over sightscreen.
---
Absolute silence for one second.
Then loud reactions everywhere.
Even Modern Public players shook heads helplessly.
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Because the shot looked effortless.
And effortless power scared bowlers most.
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SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Connection Quality: 97%
Timing: 96%
Perfect Timing Pathway Progress: 58 / 1000
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Ninety-six.
Almost perfect.
---
Sahil could actually feel the difference now during impact.
The ball stayed on bat fraction longer.
Connection smoother.
Less force needed.
Yet distance increased.
---
That realization felt dangerous.
Very dangerous.
---
By the 17th over:
Shastri School — 168/2
Needed: 11 from 18 balls
Sahil: 58* (24)
Strike Rate: 241
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Coach Verma remained calm near boundary.
But internally—
even he looked impressed now.
Not by aggression alone.
By efficiency.
---
Because Sahil wasn’t wasting balls anymore.
Every attack had purpose.
---
The fast bowler returned desperately.
And immediately tried wide yorkers again.
---
First ball.
Perfect yorker.
Dug out for single.
---
Second ball to Kabir.
Single.
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Now Sahil back on strike.
Needed: 9 from 16.
---
The bowler hesitated slightly during run-up.
Pressure visible now.
---
Slower short ball.
Good variation.
But slightly too high.
---
Sahil waited.
Then upper-cut over third man.
FOUR.
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The entire field froze briefly.
Because that shot required ridiculous reaction timing.
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SHOT ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Connection Quality: 94%
Timing: 97%
Perfect Timing Pathway Progress: 62 / 1000
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Ninety-seven.
His highest ever.
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The system added another line slowly underneath.
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DEVELOPMENT NOTICE
Host beginning to synchronize timing with natural power output.
Current Batting Evolution: High-Level Finisher Potential
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Potential.
That word appeared less frequently now.
Because slowly—
Sahil wasn’t just becoming dangerous.
He was becoming reliable.
