Navin and Malorie’s story begins, quite fittingly, on the cricket pitch, though neither of them quite realised it at the time. They had known of each other for years. As teenagers, their paths crossed through Malorie’s family: her brother Jaedyn played on the same team as Navin, coached by their father Peter. During those early years, Navin quietly kept a tradition alive sending Malorie a birthday message every year. And every year, without fail, Malorie didn’t reply. A slow-burn romance, if ever there was one. Fast forward to 2019, when fate decided to step in with a bit more urgency. Malorie, Jaedyn, and their mum Bonnye travelled to South Africa to watch Peter compete in the Masters Indoor Cricket World Cup. Inspired by the trip (and perhaps a little nostalgia), Malorie and Jaedyn decided they wanted to get back into indoor cricket after time away since living in New Zealand. A casual conversation with a member of the England indoor cricket team led to an unexpected twist: another Kiwi had reached out that very same day asking about playing. His name? Navin Patel. Surprised and amused by the coincidence, Malorie sent Navin a message from the hotel. They were both in the UK, after all—why not meet up and play? One message led to another, and soon enough, they were back on the court together. Then came 2020, lockdowns, and a whole lot of creative thinking. Through countless messages, their connection grew stronger, even as the world stood still. When they finally began meeting in person, they did so with a sense of humour and a touch of rebellion, Malorie jokingly claiming she was visiting her “best friend” for emotional support if ever questioned. It was all very convincing… aside from the growing number of miles between their homes. Those miles added up quickly. Weekly visits became the norm. Malorie joined Navin’s cricket club, and what started as a shared passion steadily turned into something much deeper. By 2024, they had built a life together under one roof. Of course, no great love story is complete without a few memorable moments. On one of their first indoor cricket trips, Navin and Jaedyn ordered pizza, unfortunately not vegan. Without hesitation, Navin offered Malorie… the cardboard box. Oddly enough, that might have been the moment everything changed. They are, in many ways, opposites. Navin thrives on order, precision, and doing things “just right.” Malorie embraces spontaneity, freedom, and the unpredictable. Navin might claim to be the less stubborn one but anyone who has seen him insist on a perfectly clean plate might disagree. Together, they balance each other in the best possible way. Their lives remain deeply rooted in cricket. Both proudly represent England in indoor cricket, and both captain men’s outdoor cricket sides, a shared passion that continues to shape their journey. Off the field, their differences add even more colour to their story. Navin enjoys a good beer, while Malorie leans toward soda water—though she can certainly join in when the occasion calls for it. Navin, raised in a family of pharmacists, tends toward allopathic medicine, while Malorie, a qualified naturopathic nutritionist, brings a more holistic perspective. Navin is book smart; Malorie is street smart. Navin values tidiness; Malorie has a legendary collection of shoes and clothes. And while Navin’s Guinness-fuelled moments have been known to bring Malorie to tears (for all the wrong reasons), it’s these little quirks that make their relationship uniquely theirs. From missed messages to perfect timing, from cricket courts to shared homes, Navin and Malorie’s story is one of persistence, laughter, and an undeniable connection that was always there just waiting for the right moment to take centre stage.