HAVERFORD, Pa. - Saturday at Cope Field delivered everything cricket should be – bright skies, loud cheers, and a performance destined to live long in Haverford memories. With junior Anuj Poddar sidelined through injury, first-year Rameel Rizwan stepped into the XI, while the rest of the squad carried the determination to bounce back from a difficult past weekend.
Haverford won the toss and elected to bat first, a tactic that has quickly become a hallmark of the side. The innings began steadily with sophomore Agastya Singh and junior Rustom Dubash at the crease. Dubash held firm before an unlucky run-out ended his innings at 20 (39), and soon after, in-form Nihaal Kochar was dismissed cheaply. At 50 for 2, the contest could have swung either way.
Junior Sanil Kagalwala, promoted up the order, joined Singh at the wicket, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. The pair launched an assault on Amwell Valley's bowlers, transforming patience into power. Boundaries flowed with ease, highlighted by a Singh strike that crashed into the pavilion and sent spectators scrambling for cover. The partnership was electric.
Singh, calm and measured at first, blossomed into command as Kagawala's fearless striking lifted the run rate. Singh went on to record his maiden half-century before converting it into a century, finishing unbeaten on 124 off just 77 balls. Kagawala added a blistering 60* off 27 deliveries at a strike rate of 222, his innings marked by towering sixes and a swagger that ignited the pavilion. Together, the pair built an unbeaten 119-run partnership that carried Haverford to a commanding 245 for 2 in 25 overs. A standing ovation greeted the duo as they returned to the pavilion, the moment already etched into program history.
With such a total on the board, the second innings became about control, composure, and execution. Captain Ishpuneet Singh and Kochar opened the bowling with tight lines, removing Amwell's openers cheaply. Kochar even took a catch off the captain's bowling before an injury during a second attempt forced him out of the remainder of the match. Despite the setback, the pressure on Amwell never eased.
By the 15th over, the visitors required 176 runs from 60 balls, a near-impossible task. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Ishpuneet Singh claiming two more scalps and junior Rohan Sarma seizing his opportunity with a clean-bowled dismissal. Amwell's number four produced a valiant 40 runs before retiring hurt, leaving the side with little resistance. At 114 for 5 with one over to play, the result was beyond doubt. In the spirit of experimentation, first-year Muhammad Bin Nauman was handed the final over. Though it included a handful of extras, it provided the young bowler with valuable match experience before the home crowd.
Haverford closed the day with a commanding victory, defined by fireworks with the bat, sharp fielding, and disciplined bowling. Singh's maiden century, Kagawala's blistering fifty and highlight-reel catch in the outfield, their 119-run partnership, Ishpuneet's leadership, and the squad's collective energy all underscored the essence of this "foundation year" – building memories, building confidence, and building toward something greater.
It was, in every sense, a day to remember at Cope Field.
