Chapter 13 : A Whirlwind Chase

Commentator 1: "What a stunning batting performance from Delhi! They have absolutely dominated this Karnataka bowling attack, finishing their innings on a mammoth 345 for 3! This has been nothing short of a batting masterclass in this high-stakes semifinal!"

Commentator 2: "Incredible stroke play, fearless intent, and absolutely no mercy on anything loose! Karnataka were searching for wickets, but Delhi just never let them settle. These last ten overs were an absolute whirlwind!"

The final stretch of the innings had been an all-out assault from Delhi's batters. Having already crossed 250 by the 40th over, they went into overdrive, taking apart Karnataka's bowling attack.

In the 42nd over, Rahul floated in a tossed-up delivery, trying to tempt the batter, but he was ready for it, launching it straight over long-off for a massive six!

Commentator 1: "That's into the second tier! What a hit! He read the flight perfectly and just sent it soaring over the boundary!"

Commentator 2: "Delhi are completely unleashing now! They know they have wickets in hand, and they are making full use of it!"

Advay was brought back for his eighth over in the 44th, bowling a sharp back-of-a-length delivery aimed at the batter's body. The batter shuffled across and scooped it over fine leg for four!

Commentator 1: "Oh, that's audacious! What a scoop! The confidence of this Delhi batting lineup is unbelievable!"

Commentator 2: "And that brings up 300 for Delhi! They have absolutely battered this Karnataka attack!"

Vishal, looking for some respite, went full and straight in the 47th over, but the batter was expecting it. He got under the ball and launched it high over midwicket for six!

Commentator 1: "It's raining boundaries at the moment! Delhi are just piling on the misery!"

Commentator 2: "There's no stopping them! The bowlers have run out of ideas, and Karnataka need to regroup fast before they come out to bat!"

Karnataka finally managed to get a couple of wickets in the final over, with Advay deceiving the well-set batter with a slower ball, inducing a mistimed lofted shot that went straight to long-on. But the damage had already been done.

The scoreboard flashed 345 for 3 in 50 overs.

Commentator 1: "And that's the innings! Delhi finish at an incredible 345 for 3! This is a massive total in a semifinal, and Karnataka will have to play out of their skins to chase this down!"

Commentator 2: "Delhi's batters have put them in the driver's seat! 345 is a daunting total, and it will take a special effort from Karnataka's batting lineup to pull this off!"

As the teams walked off the field, Karnataka's batters gathered near the dressing room, their minds already shifting to the enormous task ahead. It was going to take a near-perfect chase to book their spot in the finals.

As the players walked off the field, the Karnataka team gathered near their dugout, their expressions serious. 345 was a mountain of a target. The Delhi camp was buzzing with confidence, their players chatting and laughing, knowing they had put up an intimidating total in this high-pressure semifinal.

Inside the dressing room, the Karnataka coach stood in front of the team, his voice calm but firm.

"We're not out of this," he said, his eyes scanning every player. "Yes, 345 is a huge score, but it's not impossible. You've all played cricket long enough to know—if you bat smart, if you build partnerships, if you stay patient, you can chase this down."

The players listened intently, the tension still in the air.

"We have fifty overs. No need to rush, no need to panic. Believe in your game, play your shots, and the runs will come."

Aryan, the captain, took a deep breath and gave a nod. Then, he turned to Advay and Arjun. "You two are opening."

There was a moment of surprise among some of the players—Advay had batted at one-down the entire tournament, but now, he was being sent out to open in the biggest chase of the season.

The coach glanced at Advay. "You're our best player of fast bowling, and we need a strong start. You and Arjun—go out there, set the tone, and put the pressure back on them."

Advay didn't hesitate. He simply nodded and picked up his bat. Arjun grinned, tapping his gloves together. "Let's do this."

As the two of them walked out of the dressing room and onto the field, the commentators picked up the conversation, analyzing Karnataka's approach.

Commentator 1: "Welcome back, everyone! We are set for Karnataka's chase of 345 runs, a massive target set by Delhi. It's not going to be easy, but if there's one thing we've learned from this Karnataka team, it's that they don't back down from a fight."

Commentator 2: "And here's a surprise! Advay Rai and Arjun are walking out to open the batting. Advay has been playing at one-down this entire tournament, but Karnataka have decided to send him up front today. What do you think of this decision?"

Commentator 1: "I think it's a bold but smart move. Advay has been their most in-form batter, and he's one of the best players of pace in this lineup. If he gets going early, he can put Delhi on the back foot right from the start."

Commentator 2: "And let's not forget Arjun—he's been solid as an opener throughout the tournament. Karnataka will need him to anchor the innings while Advay plays his natural game."

The two batters reached the middle, tapping their bats against the pitch. The Delhi fielders were buzzing, full of energy, knowing they had a huge total to defend. The opening bowler marked his run-up, the new ball shining under the floodlights.

The chase was about to begin.

After five overs, the Karnataka team was cruising well, playing with confidence and maintaining a strong run rate. The openers had settled in, rotating the strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries. Delhi, despite their massive total, were yet to find a breakthrough.

Commentator 1: "Karnataka are off to a solid start in this massive chase! Five overs gone, and they've moved to 49 for no loss. Both openers, Arjun and Advay, are looking comfortable, playing positive cricket without taking unnecessary risks."

Commentator 2: "This is exactly what they needed—a steady yet attacking start. They're finding the gaps, rotating strike, and putting pressure back on the bowlers. Delhi, despite their big total, know they need early wickets to stay in control."

The Delhi captain, sensing Karnataka's growing momentum, walked up to his bowlers, urging them to tighten their lines. The fielders, up until now, had been fairly quiet, but in the sixth over, that changed.

As Arjun defended a delivery back to the bowler, a fielder from the slips clapped sarcastically.

"Oh wow, great defense! Thought you guys were chasing 345, not playing for a draw."

Another fielder chimed in.

"Hey, Advay! What's with all the caution? Lost your timing?"

A few chuckles spread across the Delhi fielders. The sledging had begun.

Advay, as always, didn't react. He simply adjusted his gloves, his emerald-green eyes calm, focused. Arjun, standing at the other end, glanced at him. "Ignore it," he muttered.

Delhi, however, weren't done.

In the eighth over, one of their fast bowlers, a tall, broad-shouldered player, bowled a dot ball to Advay. As he walked past him on his follow-through, he smirked and spoke just loud enough for him to hear.

"You're nothing special, kid. Let's see if you can actually play."

Advay's grip on his bat tightened. His emerald-green eyes flicked toward the bowler, reading him for a split second before looking away.

Commentator 1: "Looks like the Delhi players are starting to have a go at Advay! Some words exchanged—nothing too aggressive, but they're trying to get into his head."

Commentator 2: "Big mistake. If there's one thing we've learned about Advay, it's that he doesn't react with words—he reacts with his bat."

The bowler, still smirking, turned back to his run-up. He had no idea what was coming next.

He charged in for the next delivery, sending in a fast, length ball aimed at off-stump.

CRACK!

Advay stepped forward and swung through the line, sending the ball soaring over long-off for six!

The crowd erupted.

Commentator 1: "THAT IS HUGE! Advay Rai has had enough—he's sent that miles over long-off!"

The bowler frowned, annoyed but determined. He ran in again, this time going short, angling into the body.

WHACK!

Advay rocked back and pulled it over deep square leg for another six!

The Delhi fielders tensed. The bowler, now visibly frustrated, rushed through his next delivery, pitching it slightly fuller outside off.

BOOM!

Advay drove it straight back over the bowler's head, another clean hit, another six!

Commentator 2: "Make that three in a row! Advay Rai is turning this match on its head!"

The Delhi captain shouted something from the infield, trying to calm his bowler down, but it was too late.

The fourth ball came in—a yorker attempt—but it missed the mark, landing in the slot.

Advay cleared his front leg and launched it over long-on! Four sixes in a row!

The stadium was buzzing. The Delhi team, moments ago brimming with confidence, now looked rattled.

The bowler, his face red with frustration, took a deep breath and went wide outside off-stump, hoping to contain the damage.

Advay reached out, slicing it over deep point—another six!

The Delhi captain ran up to his bowler. "Just bowl a dot ball!" he shouted.

The bowler, now under immense pressure, charged in for the final delivery. He went back to his short-ball plan, banging it in around chest height.

Advay was ready.

He leaned back and uppercut the ball over third man, sending it into the crowd for the sixth six in a row!

Commentator 1: "SIX IN A ROW! ADVAY RAI HAS JUST DESTROYED THIS OVER!"

Commentator 2: "What a response! You try to sledge him, you try to rattle him—and THIS is what you get!"

The Delhi players were stunned. The bowler stood at the top of his mark, staring at the ground, unable to process what had just happened.

The scoreboard flashed: 84 for no loss in 8 overs.

Advay, still calm, walked down the pitch, tapped his bat on the ground, and looked at Arjun.

"That shut them up."

After 18 overs, Karnataka was cruising at 174 for no loss, with Advay blasting his way to 104 off just 52 balls, while Arjun played a solid supporting role with 60 off 56 balls. The Delhi team was rattled, their sledging now completely silenced as their bowlers desperately searched for a breakthrough.

As the innings progressed, Karnataka showed no signs of slowing down. Every bowler Delhi threw at them was sent to the ropes, their lines and lengths becoming increasingly erratic under pressure.

By the 30th over, the scoreboard flashed 279 for no loss, with Karnataka now just 66 runs away from victory with 20 overs to spare. Advay had raced to 168 off just 92 balls, playing a mixture of textbook strokes and pure aggression, while Arjun had anchored brilliantly at 110 off 98 balls, ensuring Karnataka never lost momentum.

Commentator 1: "This is unbelievable! 279 for no loss after 30 overs! Karnataka are making a mockery of this chase! Delhi set them a huge target of 345, but right now, they're making it look like a routine run chase!"

Commentator 2: "Delhi's bowlers are completely out of ideas! They've tried everything—pace, spin, short balls, slower balls—nothing is working! Karnataka are racing towards the final with absolute dominance!"

The boundaries had not stopped coming. In the 23rd over, a back-of-a-length delivery was picked up and launched into the stands by Advay over midwicket.

Commentator 1: "That's another one into the crowd! Advay Rai is toying with this bowling attack!"

Commentator 2: "I don't think I've seen an innings like this in an U-16 semifinal! He is batting like a man possessed!"

Arjun, meanwhile, was not far behind. In the 26th over, a Delhi pacer pitched one up just outside off-stump, and Arjun leaned into it with a textbook cover drive, sending the ball racing to the boundary.

Commentator 1: "Beautifully played! Arjun showing class and composure, making sure Karnataka doesn't lose focus!"

Delhi's captain had no answers. His bowlers were bowling with low energy, their shoulders slumped. Every fielder in the deep was simply chasing leather, watching ball after ball speed past them.

By the 30th over, with just 66 runs needed, Karnataka was not just chasing the target—they were dominating the match in historic fashion.

Commentator 2: "279 for no loss! This isn't just a run chase—it's a statement! Karnataka are not just playing to win; they're playing to humiliate Delhi!"

The Karnataka dugout was already on their feet, cheering every boundary, sensing the inevitable victory. Unless something dramatic happened, this semifinal was already over.

Their teammates stormed onto the field, roaring in celebration as they lifted Advay and Arjun high into the air! The sheer dominance of their performance had sent the Karnataka dugout into a frenzy—players shouting, clapping, and embracing each other in pure joy. It wasn't just a win; it was a historic demolition.

Vishal and Rahul reached Advay first, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him excitedly.

"200 in a semifinal? Are you even human?!" Rahul shouted, laughing as he slapped Advay's back.

"Forget human—he's something else!" Vishal grinned.

Aryan, the captain, ran straight toward Arjun and clapped a firm hand on his back.

"You two just chased 345 like it was a practice match! What even was that?!" Aryan said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Arjun, drenched in sweat but grinning from ear to ear, simply raised his bat toward the Karnataka supporters in the stands, soaking in the moment.

The support staff stood near the boundary, still processing what had just happened. Some of them had their hands on their heads, unable to believe what they had witnessed. The coach, who had given them confidence at the innings break, now stood with his arms crossed, nodding in satisfaction.

The Karnataka dugout was buzzing, players shouting Advay's and Arjun's names, hugging each other, and some even running toward the stands to celebrate with the small group of Karnataka supporters.

The Delhi players, meanwhile, stood frozen. Some had their hands on their hips, others kicked at the turf in frustration. Their captain looked at the scoreboard, his expression blank.

349 for no loss in 38 overs.

It was not just a loss—it was an embarrassment. Their bowlers had been completely taken apart, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Delhi's coach walked onto the field, patting his captain's shoulder, trying to offer some words of encouragement, but it was clear—the semifinal had slipped away from them the moment Advay started his onslaught of sixes.

As Advay and Arjun were finally put back down, Aryan turned to them, his face still glowing with pride.

"We're going to the final, boys."

The team roared again, huddling around them, knowing that today, they had done something that would be remembered for years to come.

The morning after the match, Advay woke up feeling a pleasant soreness in his body—a reminder of the historic run chase from the day before. Despite the exhaustion, his mind was clear. The semifinal was done, and Karnataka was in the final. But for now, he had two full days to rest, something rare in his usual schedule of training, cricket, and business.

As he walked into the dining room, the familiar warmth of home greeted him. The smell of freshly made parathas, scrambled eggs, and steaming hot chai filled the air. Ilana, as always, was at the stove, humming softly while flipping the parathas with practiced ease. Even though the house staff took care of most things, she always insisted on cooking for her family.

Arjun was seated at the head of the table, reading the newspaper while sipping his coffee. Aditi, still in her pajamas, was lazily scrolling through her phone, clearly still waking up.

Ilana turned as Advay walked in, her emerald-green eyes lighting up. "Good morning, my love. Slept well?"

Advay nodded, stretching slightly before taking a seat. "Morning, Mama."

Arjun glanced up from his newspaper, a knowing smile on his face. "So, how does it feel to wake up after smashing a double century in a semifinal?"

Advay simply shrugged. "It was a good match."

Arjun let out a soft chuckle. "A good match? Son, you made a 200 in a record-breaking run chase. Not many people can say that."*

Ilana placed a plate of food in front of Advay, running a gentle hand through his hair as she sat down beside him. "You played beautifully, darling. But why do you always have to hit the ball so high in the air? My heart stops every time you go for those big sixes."

Advay smirked. "That's how you hit sixes, Mama."

Aditi, still half-asleep, lazily took a sip of her tea. "You know, if this were an international match, people would be going crazy over your innings. But since it's just U-16 cricket, no one even knows what happened yesterday."

Arjun nodded. "That's how junior cricket works. No cameras, no social media buzz—just pure, competitive cricket. And honestly, that's a good thing."

Ilana smiled softly. "That just means less pressure. No unnecessary distractions."

Advay didn't mind it either. He had always preferred to stay low-key, away from unnecessary attention. But he knew that wouldn't last forever.

Arjun folded his newspaper and leaned back slightly. "So, two days of rest. Any plans?"

Advay took a bite of his food before replying. "Nothing much today. Just relaxing. But tomorrow…" He wiped his hands and looked at Arjun. "I have that Forbes interview."

Aditi suddenly perked up, now fully awake. "Forbes? Wait, like an actual feature? Damn, that's huge!"

Arjun nodded approvingly. "Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. You're a self-made billionaire at 13, running a company that's dominating the food-tech industry, and on top of that, you're on your way to becoming a cricketing prodigy. I'd be more surprised if they didn't reach out."

Ilana, ever the concerned mother, gave Advay a small smile. "Just make sure you rest enough today. No need to overthink it—you'll do just fine."

Advay simply nodded. Today was about unwinding. Tomorrow, however, would put him in front of the world in a different way.