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Ashley adjusts her helmet. “So just try to keep you on strike?”
I nod. “Even number runs if we can,” I reply. “Otherwise, just get what you can. Any runs are better than no runs. And Nitro?” I say, using her nickname because I know it will make her feel better.
“Yeah?”
“When I call run, use that speed of yours and run as fast as you can.”
“Ha ha,” Ashley says.
We bump gloves and head back to our ends.
Central have closed off my straight shots with fielders at long off and long on. There are gaps past cover and point if I can get it past the infield, but I’m going to have to give myself some room, and really hit the ball hard or chance it in the air. They’ve brought on a medium pacer, which I guess is to make me do all the work since the ball will be coming on a lot slower. It’s clever, but I’m hoping I can power through it.
I manage to farm the strike and get six runs off the next over and I’m feeling okay, but it leaves Ashley on strike for the next one. They bring on an off-spinner so the ‘keeper comes up to the stumps. It takes tip and run off the table but allows me some time to think about my shots. If I can get back on strike. Ashley’s going to have to hit the ball as hard as she can.
She swings and misses at the first ball outside her off stump, but gets bat on ball on the second. It drops in the gap at mid-wicket. Ashley and I race down the pitch as the bowler chases down the ball. I run between her and the stumps and when I make my ground, I turn to see Ashley dive into the crease as the ball sails past the wickets. She jumps up, dusts herself off, and gives me a thumbs-up.
I give her a thumbs-up back, and watch as the Central captain changes the field around. She’s pushing fielders back to give me singles, but I need to get the ball into the gaps to the fence. Ones and twos just aren’t going to cut it now. The next ball kicks up, and I don’t step back quickly enough to give myself enough room to get a good strike on it. I hit it straight to the cover fielder, who ambles in, taking her time. I guess she wants to see if I’ll take the single, but I’ve called no, so Ashley doesn’t move.
That’s two balls the bowler has bowled around the same spot. I’m betting there’ll be a third since that last one made me look uncomfortable. This time though, I decide to take her on. I change my stance on the crease, stepping back to show my off stump and give myself room to move across if I have to.
My bet pays off, and she bowls the same ball, hitting almost the same spot, only this time I take a couple of quick steps down the crease and meet the ball on the half volley. It zings sweetly off my bat and sails over mid-off to the fence.
The next ball is a full toss and I hoik it across my body where it sails to the boundary at Cow Corner. The next ball Ashley and I take a quick single to keep me on strike for the next over.
The Central captain brings back their strike bowlers, and with the added pace, I really go to town. I sail past my half-century and race to 89 from 57 balls. With one over to go, we need ten runs from it. Our team is loud on the bench, Ashley’s jumping out of her skin, and I’m trying to focus on winning the game and not on my hundred.
Central opt for a spin bowler and I take my time to weigh up my options. Two sixes, three fours, two off each ball. Three options and any combination of those will win it, and if I was facing fast bowling, I’d think we’ve got a real chance. With spin, though, anything can happen.
I pick my gaps, take my stance and face up to the first ball of the final over. It’s a wide ball I swing hard at. I don’t time it well but Ashley and I run through for two. The next ball is wider again and I leave it go. It’s called a wide by the umpire so that’s a free run to us. The bowler over-corrects on the next ball, pushing towards the leg side and I manage to get enough bat on it to clip it to the boundary for four. It leaves us with just 3 runs to win the match, and 5 runs for my century.
I step off the crease and adjust my gloves. Do I go for glory or do I just try to get the runs we need to win the game? I look around at the field to see where I can hit it, and work out if I can hit it over the fence. Hitting straight isn’t an option again unless I hit it over the rope, but I’d risk getting caught if I don’t middle it. I step back to the crease and decide to just play the ball as it comes.
The bowler runs in and bowls another wide one. I let it go, but this one isn’t called. I glare at the umpire but he doesn’t budge. I let out a breath and get ready for the next ball. This one is right in my hitting zone and I swing as hard as I can. It sails high over cover and starts to drop as the fielder sprints around the boundary. She dives, but she misses and I wait while the umpires find out whether it went over the rope or not.
The umpire signals four and I throw my head back. I’ve missed out on my century by a single run but we’ve won the match. Ashley and I hug each other in the middle of the pitch, celebrating our win, but it’s hard to hide the disappointment of not getting that milestone. I glance over to the side-line, and Warren Simmons isn’t there. I’m disappointed to think that he missed the end of my innings.
Charlie’s in the stands though, whistling and going bananas. She can hardly call that innings ordinary.
When I get off the field, Brydie pulls me into a hug, pinning my arms to my sides and laughing.
“Holy cow, Alice. That was an amazing innings.”
“Thanks. No hundred though.”
Brydie pulls a face. “Yeah, you just won the match single-handedly but sure, go ahead and be disappointed you missed out on your century.”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”
“Hey, nice support out there, Ashley,” Brydie says.
“Thanks,” Ashley replies. “Alice did all the work, though.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I say, throwing my arm over Ashley’s shoulder.
I drop down onto the bench and start taking off my pads and protective gear. Karen puts her fist out for me to bump and says, “Nice work, Alice. We might have to bring you up the order if you’re going to play like that,” she says. “Warren Simmons wants a chat if you’re up to it. He’s over at the clubhouse.”
“Sure,” I reply, and quickly shove my gear into my bag. Maybe he saw my innings after all.
Brydie ribs me as we walk across the oval. “Look at this, famous already.”
“Hollywood,” Ashley says. “Might try that nickname on for size.”
“Nah,” Brydie says, pulling a face. “She’s not glamorous enough.”
“Hey!” I punch Brydie lightly on the arm and she laughs and ducks away. At least it’s better than Wannabe, which Charlie insists on teasing me about every chance she gets.
“Give me your bag and I’ll take it to the bus for you,” Brydie says.
I hand her my bag and split off from the team and walk over to the clubhouse.
“Hey, Alice?” Brydie calls.
I turn back.
“Put in a good word for your team mates?”
I wave her off and walk over to Warren Simmons.
Brydie’s right. Winning the game today after looking like losing is massive. But I still can’t shake that small twinge of disappointment in not getting that one extra run.