(Part 7)

"He's here…" Orion informed.

"Who?" Isa inquired.

"Feng Mir Ozer's trouble. That left handed swinger and seamer." Orion pointed at Nile, who tossed the ball up and down in his hands.

"Sigh~ could anything better happen? We are already losing wickets like water." Adam exhaled speechless. 

"That depends on you all. To lose your momentum or gain it back. It all depends on you." Pedro told.

"I can't help it… I feel nervous now." Heber gulped.

"It's going to be alright." a light yet a valiant voice assured.

The boys all looked ahead at Rauf, "Have faith in your teammates, your friends, your seniors and your juniors. The essence of cricket grows from trust."

Unsure of how to respond over his very rare words. The middleschoolers whispered to each other, "Did I hear him right?" "It was Rauf, right?!"

Glancing at Seraph who too stared at Rauf surprised, his mouth slightly a gape, Alan kept his hand on his mouth chuckling inaudibly.

Musa shook his head entertained, "Haiz, what kids you have, Nidou. Sometimes I think I understand them really well but; sometimes, I don't get them at all."

Nidou smiled, "Just like me."

Mir rolled his eyes.

Xavier taking a run on the 2nd ball of the over took the non-striker's end. Feng now on the front line, set his helmet and gloves. "And so… I am at this stage once again… feels like Déjà vu1 but with a different partner on the non-striker's end." he thought staring at his hands that trembled.

Shaking the feeling off, he grabbed his bat tight. Tapping it on the crease, he studied the fielding positions, "No slip is placed and there are five fielders on the boundary line now another addition on the long off. They know, as last overs are remaining we'll play high and this is the perfect chance for dismals."

Tracing Nile on the far end of the 30 inched circle before the pitch, he stared ahead vigilant. Delivering the third delivery of the over, Nile stepped on the popping crease leaving the ball from his grasp. Short and full of dangerous power, it bounced off the pitch aiming for his head.

Xavier stunned, was about to warn him however, Feng in the nick of time ducked low, evading the entire delivery. The ball in the wicketkeeper's hands, Nile grinned.

"Whoa! Easy there." Zhangli cautioned, patting Nile's back.

Feng standing straight remained stiff. In contrast, Xavier, positioned at the non-striker's end, shot a piercing glance accompanied by a menacing smile. "Nile," he called out in a chilling whisper, "Ensure you refrain from any humorous (underhanded) antics. Consider it a friendly piece of advice."

"Oh~?" Nile scoffed, "Hmph, like that's going to intimidate me." And with that he went back to deliver the 4th delivery of the over.

Feng tapping his bat on the crease stood attentive. Sweat dripping his forehead down to his eyelashes, he blinked anxious. "Don't worry… don't be afraid… don't give in, Feng. Just keep your eyes on the ball and don't get out no matter what…" he reassured himself in a light whisper. 

Ishaq hearing his inaudible murmur narrowed his gaze pondering.

Rushing towards the popping crease Nile aimed the next delivery short and full of ominous strength. Too fast to react, the ball grazed Feng's helmet as he tried to dodge.

"OH-!" The wicketkeeper gasped jumping up and grasping the ball, however dropping with a somersault.

"OH!!" the crowd and commentators too went.

"This is quite a terrifying start; Nile, making his debut, has initiated with a display of aggression," remarked Maaz.

Xavier amid the over went over to Feng who crouched low, fazed. "Are you alright?" he inquired worrisome.

Feng nodded as he took off his helmet, reaching to touch the inflamed top of his right ear. "Hiss…" he went, however soon pulled his shirt's collar wiping his face. "Get a hold of yourself, Feng." he encouraged himself, looking up and smiling at Xavier who held an evident concern filled countenance. Xavier returning the same smile gave his hand pulling him back to his feet once more. Glancing at Nile, who was surrounded by Zhangli, Omar and Ishaq, Feng wore his helmet.

"2 bouncers and a short delivery in a single over." Elias said.

"Which means no bouncers anymore." Aigou added.

"But… I thought only a single bouncer was allowed in an over in T20's?" Helios questioned.

"It is, but PSL and other leagues sometimes allow 2. You all must have played with a single bouncer per over rule in Inter-academy Nationals, right?" Isa glanced aside.

"Hm." Helios nodded. 

Alan keeping his finger on his lips studied.

"Feng might have a chance to take a run now." Noah said.

"Hm." Senri agreed.

"Nonetheless, to think he is afraid of Nile and is still taking him on. He really is our junior." Ren winked at Azazel who twitched his brow in turn.

"Right… but when the over ends, let me go to him with the bottles." Ezekiel yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"You?" Ryan quesitoned puzzled.

"Hm, I have something to tell him." Ezekiel replied serious.

Helios and Poseidon glanced at each other clueless. Kenzo too tapped his finger on his knee silent.

Taking a run, Feng took the non-strikers end at last, as Xavier finished the over accumulating 4 more runs to the total 111. Runs now 115/3, the last over before the final death overs was taken by Zhangli.

Suleiman staring at Nile for a long while exhaled. "He is genuinely putting his words into action." Hafiz entered, taking a seat beside Suleiman.

Glancing up, Suleiman questioned, "Where had you been?"

"Buying treats." Hafiz showed him cold drinks and popcorns nonchalantly, "Hehe… want some?"

Speechless over his behavior, Suleiman looked away while Raza and Uzair sighed. Naeem on the contrary chuckled amused. 

"Anyways, with the score less than and near to 180 to chase, we can definitely win this match." Uzair told.

Hafiz hearing him slurped his drink. "Hm~? Is that so?" he smiled with an unmoved expression.

"What do you mean?" Raza asked.

"Underestimate no one. Their All-rounders are still left." Hafiz smiled, "Nile might be a valuable asset we have received in the last moments of our team selection but he isn't indomitable. That's why the game we play is called 'Cricket.' In this ground no one can be unbeatable."

Naeem agreed, "He's right. Karachi has always been unpredictable. Sometimes they lose even when they're winning and sometimes they grasp victory even in depths of loss. To underestimate those children, it's like digging your own grave." "But, that doesn't mean we lag behind. We also have the ability to attain miracles." he assured at the end. Suleiman pondering over their words recalled…

_____

A hot day amid mid-summer. The practice stadium was surrounded by nets with the pitch readily made. Many teenagers gathered the ground while some sat on the audience seats of the stadium.

"Nile Dawood." Suleiman called from a file, standing before the boys. Looking upwards, he traced a young figure approaching between many teenagers.

Halting before him "Yes…" Nile replied ever so lightly, yet his eyes confidently confronted Suleiman's piercing gaze.

Suleiman glared, "Pick your ball up and get ready. I don't call players again and again." he turned around grabbing his bat.

Nile picking the ball up from the ground nodded. "You won't have to call me again…" he suddenly spoke.

Suleiman gave a sideway frown.

"I'll be here to face you like my schedule says, practice every day like the schedule states, achieve whatever you demand and show you talent one barely witnesses… so, just let me enter the next PSL." Nile looked up, his tone immediately turning into a demanding one, "I want to set sail through the next World Cup!"

Hearing him the teenagers around, all went silent.

"Huh? Are you serious? He said that on Captain Suleiman's face!" one of them murmured. "Tch, he's gone for good, haha." another one snickered.

Nonetheless, Nile's gaze serious, he stared back into Suleiman's eyes not wavering an inch.

"Pfft!! Haha! Hey Suleiman, that brat's amusing. Why don't you give him a chance?" Hafiz laughed from the seats behind.

"Yeah, give him a chance and see when he runs away." Zaki added amused.

"Sigh~ don't say it like that, he must be nervous. Took him all the courage to say everything before." Zhangli added playfully.

Nile glanced aside. A sudden sneer leaving his lips, he twirled the ball in his fingers.

Suleiman furrowed his brows.

"Haha…" the boys on the seats laughed as unexpectedly a cock ball went past by Zaki straight towards Zhangli's face. At that moment, Hafiz summersaulted 2 lanes back and single handedly grabbed the ball with his bare hands before it could even graze him.

Zhangli frowned.

"He-e j-ust aimed for a highschooler?! Vice-captain Zhangli on top of it!" the teenagers gasped baffled in their thoughts. 

"Just so to remind you all, I am not as good as I look nor as frail as my words seem to make me. When I was talking to your leader then that meant just your leader." Nile threatened, "Celebrate that it didn't hit your face because I crushed many faces similar like yours in my path."