By Choo Zi Xuan (25S03E) and Kavya Thirunavukkarasan (25S03I)
It was finally D-Day. At 8.07 am, on a Thursday, 16th May 2024, the cricket team boarded the bus to SCC Dempsey Field, oblivious to what this final match had in store for them. The bus was full of optimism and confidence.
Twenty faces beamed with smiles, and twenty hearts brimmed with hope. They were set to face their all-time rivals, ACS(I), eager to bring home the gold after five long years.
However, life has its ways of surprising us. One instant, the path seems clear, the destination within reach. But sometimes, things just don’t go the way we want or expect them to. Plans unravel, dreams get delayed, and the anticipated turns into the unexpected. It’s as if the universe has its own script, full of twists and turns that challenge our resolve.
Little did the cricket players know that their match would get postponed. Little did they know that the rain would ruin their plans. Little did they know…
D-Day: Part 1
8.32 am. The bus pulled up, overlooking the vast green field. As the athletes got off one by one, the words of their Vice Captain, Sadak Advaith (24S03F) echoed on each of their faces. “Usually I’m nervous about performing, or I’m scared of losing. But for the first time, today I can proudly say that when I step onto that field, I won’t feel any fear. Why? Because I know that if I don’t perform, then Garv will serve. If Anshul doesn’t perform, then Nikhil will. If Aarav doesn’t, then Rohan will. And if the whole playing level is low, then I know the squad in the stands will lift us up.”
“You know, the strongest teams aren’t those with the most talented players, but it’s those teams where no matter who you target, the rest will come back only ever stronger.”
Sadak Advaith (24S03F)
Credits to Anamika Ragu (23A01A) and Venkatesan Ranjana (23A01D)
The First Innings
9.26 am. RI won the toss and chose to bat first, their two opening batsmen, Anshul Jogesh Doshi (24S06N) and Nikhil Arora (25S03I) taking their respective positions at opposite ends of the rectangular pitch. With the 11 ACS(I) fielders scattered across the field, the battle for gold began.
“And there’ll definitely be high expectations of us, since we won (the ‘B’ Division) last year. But as a team, I feel like we don’t want to care about that. And if we can make the school proud and ourselves proud most importantly, that’s the best achievement for us.”
Nikhil Arora (25SO3I), Captain of the 2023 ‘B’ Division Team
9.42 am. Third over. RI lost a wicket. Scoring 10 runs in 9 balls, Anshul was out and replaced by Mason Arthur Sherry (25S06E).
The fourth and fifth overs came with a quick succession of 3 more wickets. In a heartbeat, it was 60 minutes through the game. 10 overs, 51 runs, seven wickets. The scoreboard was not looking favourable. But this is no reason for the Rafflesians in the stands to lose hope.
10.24 am. It was Rohan Nanduri (25S03R) and Shreevathsa Chihnan (25S06S) on the field. The tension in the air was palpable as they took their position at the crease, determined to steady the ship. Both players knew that every run counted, every ball mattered, and every moment was a chance to shift the momentum. “The partnership to me was just about anchoring the team, especially after losing 3 wickets in less than 7 balls. I just had to stay there and make sure we didn’t feel the pressure.”
“So I decided to go in with a completely different mindset of trying to have as much fun as possible. I was just enjoying myself.”
Rohan Nanduri (25S03R)
As the clouds gathered ominously, the two cricketers, with a collective nod and exchanged glances, stood tall, their spirits unwavering. As the RI supporters cheered them on, Rohan and Chihnan carried the team from 51 to 85 runs. Their partnership came to an end in the 16th over when Rohan was bowled out and replaced by Garv Batra (24S06K).
10.51 am. 90 minutes through the game. The remaining three batsmen fought to secure as many runs as they could in the last four overs as their team continued supporting and screaming their names.
“I think I could really see the spirit emerge among our team, […] The sense of unity that we showed today was bigger than the game for me.”
Ashwin Kumar (25S06G)
11.10 am. 19th over. RI lost its final wicket and the first innings drew to a conclusion. Chihnan was caught out with a score of 39 runs in 27 balls and the longest playtime of 60 minutes. RI managed a final score of 114 runs, which set ACS(I) the target of 115 runs in the second innings.
Right then, the rain began to pour and the once vibrant energy of the match was dampened by the relentless downpour. The umpires conferred briefly before making the inevitable announcement: the match was postponed to the following Monday. The decision hung heavy in the air, a mix of frustration and acceptance settling over the team. They would have to wait, their anticipation stretched out over several more days, their resolve tested by the unforeseen delay.
D-Day: Part 2
It was finally D-Day, again. The cricket team was back on the bus to SCC Dempsey Field, with their spirits high as always. Thursday’s performance may not have been their best, but there was still hope. With the Promethean flame burning bright within them, they were ready to face the challenge of the day, yet again.
The Second Innings
Monday, 9.30 am. Back on the field, RI Cricket was now spread out across the playing area, each player poised and ready. Chihnan took his position behind the stumps as the wicketkeeper while Aarav Sehgal (25S06M), the opening bowler, marked his run-up, the ball gripped firmly in his hand. The atmosphere crackled with renewed energy and determination. Aarav began his run-up, the quest for gold back on track.
RI got off to a steady start, skillfully keeping ACS(I)’s runs to a minimum. They approached each delivery with caution, taking it one ball at a time.
10.36 am. The game had been in play for an hour. Ten overs yielded 55 runs and cost ACS(I) two wickets, caught out by Nikhil and bowled out by Roshan Ravichandran (25S06E). Yet again, the weather turned against them once more. A fine drizzle began to fall, lightly peppering the field as the athletes kept the game going. The team’s focus narrowed to a single objective: take out ACS(I)’s key player. They strategised, tightened their fielding, and waited for the right moment.
10.46 am. ACS(I)’s star batsman was caught out by Shawn Shibu Thomas (24S06K). This pivotal moment was a turning point. The tension broke, and within the next ten minutes, another wicket fell. The team’s energy swelled, their spirits lifted by the swift success. Hope surged anew, breathing life into their efforts.
11.09 am. Nature intervened once more. A sudden lightning alert halted the game. 90 minutes into the match, the scoreboard read 18 overs, 106 runs, four wickets. The match that seemed so within their grasp was now suspended in uncertainty.
But adversity has a way of revealing character. The players, drenched but undeterred, huddled together under the shelters. They had prepared for this moment for years, and they weren’t about to let a storm dim their ambition.
In consideration of the weather, the umpires discussed once again, and a Duckworth-Lewis target was set. ACS(I) needed only 2 more runs in the next over to be crowned champions.
11.23 am. As the team stepped back onto the field and the game resumed, they knew they would carry with them not just their skills, but the unyielding spirit that had seen them through countless trials. For in the unpredictable dance of life, it is the ability to adapt and persevere that truly defines champions. They were ready to give it their all in the last over.
Aarav felt immense pressure as he prepared to bowl the final over. He was back on the field to finish what he had started, the weight of the match resting heavily on his shoulders. Every eye was on him, every breath held in anticipation. First ball, no runs. Second ball, first run. Third ball, a wicket. A WICKET! The team and supporters broke into cheers. Three more balls, one more run, there was still hope.
11.26 am. The hope was shortlived for when Aarav bowled the fourth ball, ACS(I) scored their final run. That instant, the field witnessed a mixed of feelings as ACS(I) rejoiced while the RI players grappled with the crushing disappointment.
Victory was so close, yet so far. It had lingered just within reach, a promise that seemed almost certain. The team had envisioned the triumphant moments, the cheers, the celebration, and the joy of holding the championship trophy. However, it slipped through their fingers in an instant, a fleeting dream that evaporated under the harsh light of reality.
However, the RI team was already victorious in a way that transcended the scoreboard. They had played not just for the trophy or the title, but for each other, supporting one another through every challenge and setback.
The bonds they had formed, the lessons they had learned, and the respect they had earned from their peers and opponents alike were worth more than any medal. This match was a game already won before it even began.
“I want to say that if you ask me to choose between the trophy and this team, I will pick this team any day because you don’t understand how grateful I am to be part of such a beautiful team. I’m a single child, but I’ve found myself 20 brothers here. ”
Sadak Advaith (24S03F)
They had learned to value effort over outcome, integrity over victory, and solidarity over individual glory. As they walked off the field, they carried with them a sense of pride that no defeat could diminish.
Raffles Press congratulates Raffles Cricket for their remarkable perseverance throughout the NSG season and is proud of their unwavering dedication and the wholehearted effort they put into every match. For in their journey in this sport, this match is but one chapter, and their story is far from over.
Credits to the RI Cricket Team for all images.
Batting Order:
22 – Nikhil Arora (25S03I)
77 – Anshul Jogesh Doshi (24S06N)
02 – Mason Arthur Sherry (25S06E)
84 – Roshan Ravichandran (25S06E)
16 – Shawn Shibu Thomas (24S06K)
48 – Shreevathsa Chihnan (25S06S)
20 – Aarav Sehgal (25S06M)
99 – Abdullah Bhadelia (24S06C)
42 – Rohan Nanduri (25S03R)
91 – Batra Garv (24S06K)
18 – Sadak Advaith (24S03F)
Bowlers:
20 – Aarav Sehgal (25S06M)
42 – Rohan Nanduri (25S03R)
18 – Sadak Advaith (24S03F)
84 – Roshan Ravichandran (25S06E)
77 – Anshul Jogesh Doshi (24S06N)
