The batter nudges the ball and sets off for a quick single. A fielder charges in, and in one swift motion, picks the ball up and flicks it into the stumps behind him.
Pandemonium erupts in the stands and it looks like the batter is short of his ground. To be certain, the umpire makes a referral to the Decision Review System (DRS).
It's the kind of scene that plays out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground each summer, but tonight it is happening inside an Anglican church hall, underneath a replica of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel masterpiece, The Creation of Adam.
For more than a decade, St Columb's Hawthorn has become a spiritual home for the players who take to its cricket pitch five days a week.
The church hall, which is more than 130 years old, ranks as one of the most unique venues in world cricket.
"It's the perfect combination of outdoor, indoor and backyard cricket," said Anil Mirchandani, the head of St Columb's Premier League (SPL) and captain of one of its teams, The Misfits.
Judgement is coming ... by video review
Much like the famed Lord's Cricket Ground, the SPL ground also has a sloped pitch. But that is where the similarities end. The church cricket surface is made up of carpets that were once used in Olympic Games, and the arena is secured by fencing and nets, protecting the spectators who sit in old church pews. At one end, the umpire stands beneath an old archbishop's chair.
Electronic scoreboards, a four-camera DRS system, speakers and the live streaming of matches elevate the game to another level. A hall-of-fame has even been set up.
"It makes every single player feel like they are absolute celebrities here. For that hour-and-a-half, they get to masquerade and feel like they're on top of the world," Mirchandani said.
Adds Sunny Krishna, a fellow SPL player and commentator: 'It's just like backyard cricket on steroids."
Over the years, there have been legendary innings and spectacular fielding efforts that have gone down in SPL folklore. Once, a streaker burst through the church doors and ran onto the field.
"We've got that on camera as well," Mirchandani quipped, before clarifying that the streaker had nothing to do with the competition and its players.
The league was set up 12 years ago by St Columb's outgoing pastor, Pete Horsford, as a way to make Indian students feel welcome after a spate of racist incidents in Melbourne. Despite the religious venue, Christianity was never imposed on participants.
The SPL has grown to a six-grade competition with 400-odd players. While everyone is welcome, nearly all are of South Asian background.
Those involved in the SPL say it evolved from a cricket competition to something bigger — a genuine community where people looked out for each other.
"Whether you're Indian, whether you're Sri Lankan, whether you're Christian, it makes zero difference when you come here. That's what I enjoy about it," said Sangeeta Gupta, a regular spectator in the SPL pews.
'Safety issues' end competition's run
The current SPL season, which wraps up this month, will be the last to be played at St Columb's.
The church's parish has decided to evict the players, citing "many safety issues that needed to be addressed" with the building.
In a statement, St Columb's vicar Reverend Mark McDonald said ending the competition was "a difficult decision", but "like many organisations carving a path out of the pandemic, the parish has to adapt to the new environment".
"The safety issues related to the stands, platforms and fire exits which on advice did not comply with current building standards," Rev. McDonald said.
"There are also concerns with electrical wiring and other issues resulting from many years of minimal maintenance to the building.
"We wish the members of the cricket community every success in their search for a new venue. We have provided the current management team with a written reference for them to provide to suitable hosts."
Mirchandani said the SPL had previously donated tens of thousands of dollars towards the church, and proposals to help pay for the renovations and return when they were completed were knocked back.
He said the players respected the parish's decision, but many were going through "a bit of a grieving process".
"A feeling of emptiness — that is one resonating feeling I know a lot of the members have," he said.
Krishna, who works as a GP, said the mental health benefits of community sport could not be understated, especially after two years of stop-start lockdowns in Melbourne.
"It's been an opportunity for people to mix, to discuss, to laugh, and even to cry out here," he said.
