The Niles West Cricket Club made history by winning their first-ever home match against Maine East High School on Friday, Nov. 15. Formed last year, the cricket club has 14 members, although traditionally, the game requires eleven players on each team. This might have been the most-awaited event for almost all Desi (South Asian) students, as this is a nostalgic sport for the community.

The vocabulary and rules of cricket are new to many. On the two ends of the pitch, which is the batting area, stand two wickets. After a hit, the batsmen run between the two wickets and score a run each time they reach the end of the pitch. Additionally, a wicket down means a batsman has been outed, with each team having ten outs a game.

The match started with a solid performance from Niles West as they made an impressive 154 runs in 10 overs. Captain Shayan Zeeshan, senior, and his batting partner Zain Mahfooz, senior led the charge, hitting multiple sixes and fours.

“We had a great, great partnership in the first game. It’s going good. It’s going to be a high-scoring match,” Zeeshan said.

In response, Maine East struggled to match the pace set by Niles West, managing only 35 runs in their 10 overs.  West took all 10 wickets down while Maine East was only able to take three wickets. With such a large gap in runs, it was clear that the Wolves had the upper hand.

The team’s success didn’t happen overnight, though. They’ve been practicing every Friday, despite the challenges presented by finding space for the sport at Niles West, under the supervision of sponsor Matthew Allen.

“We started this cricket club last year as a trial club. Many guys that came from other countries wanted to play. A lot of guys from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India – it’s such a popular sport, and it’s growing so much this year. This is the first year we have a real club, and we’re excited to play other teams. Hopefully, we’ll win,” Allen said.

Ahead of the match, Allen expressed pride in his team’s potential.

“I expect us to pull out a win and for the guys to have fun. You know, that’s what it’s all about—being able to share the love of cricket and playing sports in general. I’m so proud of them; they’ve really come together as a team, and they’ve worked hard for this moment,” Allen said.

Senior Nameer Majeed emphasized the unity within the team.

 “We played for each other, and today was a reminder that cricket is about more than just the sport. It’s about heart, and this win shows how strong we are together,” Majeed said.

The team celebrated their victory, excited for the future, and with upcoming tournaments in the spring, they are focused on continuing their success.

“We’re going to be playing in a tournament in the spring, so as soon as the weather breaks, we’ll try to get into the field house to play more in the wintertime,” Allen said.

The Niles West Cricket Club has high hopes for the season and is ready to take on more challenges. Zeeshan is looking forward to what is next.

“It’s just the beginning, and we’re ready for more victories,” Zeeshan said.