C

---

My First Cricket Century

If you're someone who plays cricket, you already know that scoring a century is a big deal. For me, it was more than just 100 runs—it was the reward for years of passion, practice, and a lot of early mornings with sore muscles and muddy shoes.

It all happened on a warm Saturday afternoon during an inter-school tournament. Our team was up against one of the strongest sides in the district. I wasn’t nervous, just... focused. I had been in decent form lately, but I didn’t walk out expecting to hit three figures. Honestly, my goal was just to stay on the pitch and build a steady partnership.

I started slow—like, really slow. My first 20 runs took forever. But once I got my eye in, something just clicked. I wasn’t swinging wildly or trying to show off. I was just timing the ball, rotating the strike, and picking the gaps. Every now and then, I’d get a loose ball and send it to the boundary. The runs kept ticking, and before I knew it, I was in the 70s.

That’s when I felt it. The nerves. The crowd (mostly our schoolmates and a few teachers) started chanting my name. I could hear them from the boundary. My coach gave me a thumbs-up from the bench, and my opening partner, who had gotten out earlier, shouted, “You’ve got this!” from the pavilion.

The 90s were a blur. I remember being on 97 when I hit a cover drive—clean, smooth, and straight to the rope. Century! I didn’t even raise my bat at first because I was in shock. Then, I looked up and saw everyone clapping, cheering, standing. My teammates ran in with high-fives and shoulder pats. It felt... unreal.

That moment taught me more than just cricket. It taught me patience, focus, and how staying calm under pressure makes all the difference. It also showed me how much support from teachers, teammates, and even opponents matters in sport—and in life.

I know there will be other centuries to chase, but your first is always special. It’s the one that stays with you, the one that proves to yourself that you can do it.

So, to all the students out there who love a sport—or any dream—stick with it. The big moments come when you least expect them, but only if you’ve put in the work.