Victoria Junior College (VJC) produced a landmark performance on April 15, defeating long-time powerhouse Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) by six wickets in the National School Games (NSG) A Division cricket competition at the Ceylon Sports Club.
The victory, achieved in a low-scoring but gripping contest played from 1pm to 4pm, marks VJC’s first-ever win over ACS (I) at the A Division level – a breakthrough moment for the junior college in one of Singapore’s most competitive school cricket competitions.
The NSG A Division, organised by the Singapore Schools Sports Council, represents the highest level of inter-school sport for students aged 17-18, with cricket being a well-established fixture for over two decades.
After losing the toss, VJC were put in to bowl and made a disciplined start through new-ball pair Kapish Venkatram and captain Aryan Voleti. Despite early dropped chances allowing ACS (I) to score freely and threaten a strong total, VJC clawed their way back into the game with the introduction of spin.
Vihaan Nagar and Abinandhan Vasanthakumar turned the match decisively, removing key batsman Arnav Manoj and applying sustained pressure through regular wickets.
Nagar led the charge with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Vasanthakumar and Voleti picked up three wickets each as ACS (I) were bowled out for 97 in 17.2 overs.
The effort was particularly significant as it marked the first time VJC had dismissed ACS (I) for a completed total in the competition.
Chasing a modest but potentially tricky target, VJC began positively, countering expectations of aggressive opposition bowling with early boundaries. However, a sudden cluster of three wickets shifted momentum briefly, leaving the contest finely poised.
Captain Voleti then steadied the innings with a composed knock of 45, anchoring the chase with maturity beyond his years. He was well supported by Samyak Oswal, whose busy running and timely boundaries ensured the scoreboard kept moving.
The pair’s partnership proved decisive as VJC reached the target comfortably in 15.4 overs, sealing victory with six wickets in hand.
Reflecting on the result, Voleti said: “We didn’t come to participate; we came to change the script.”
The win caps a remarkable season for VJC, which had entered the tournament with little recent success. Just last year, the team lost all their matches, but this campaign has seen a dramatic turnaround.
Earlier in the competition, VJC also ended a 17-year winless streak against Raffles Junior College, chasing down 119 in 19.3 overs after restricting their opponents to 118 for 8 – another sign of the team’s resurgence.
With only three teams competing in the A Division in recent years, ACS (I) and Raffles JC have traditionally dominated the format. ACS (I), in particular, has built a formidable reputation, regularly winning across A, B and C divisions, and has already secured the B Division title this year.
That context makes VJC’s twin victories over both defending champions Raffles JC and perennial contenders ACS (I) all the more significant.
“VJC’s performance is remarkable because their cricket players do not fall under the Direct School Admission scheme,” said S. Sivalingam, the cricket coach at Broadrick Secondary. “The school does not even have proper cricket training facilities; they make use of the nets and ground at St Patrick’s. For long ACS(I), and RI have dominated Singapore schools’ cricket. It is good to see Victoria challenging the duo.”
VJC’s transformation has been guided by coach Satyam Sandrasegaren of CricKingdom Singapore. He credited improved preparation for the breakthrough.
“VJC came to us last year, but we had very little time to prepare for NSG. This year, they committed more time to training and mentoring, and the results are showing,” he said. “Dream big, work hard and achieve it has been the mantra.”
With the NSG A Division season still ongoing, VJC’s historic win has already redefined their campaign – and signalled the emergence of a new contender in Singapore school cricket.
