(Part 15)

Rovan bowling the fifth over, delivered wide on the second delivery.

Heber on the crease wondered, "The magic circle in his eyes is still glowing and yet, he aimed for wide?"

The umpire waving his arms signaled a wide.

Rovan bowling the rest of the over with, peak precision, Aigou and Heber intermittently took runs. On the last delivery, Heber took the batting crease looking around the field. His Joker Cage activated, Rovan studied the circus room.

"What's up? Do you like? It's a bit messy though." Heber asked.

Rovan chuckled, "I would be lying if I were to say I didn't. I was just quiet impressed. With this ability of yours you have pulled yourself through the entire powerplay. Both Juhan and Wasif's deliveries, not only did you counter them you also went all out." Rovan remarked.

Heber smiled pleased, "Thanks for the compliment but I know you all are constantly trying to find an opening."

Rovan nodded, "Of course, if we don't do that. I am afraid we can't win." Stepping on the popping crease, Rovan delivered a slow ball.

Heber narrowing his gaze studied the ball as his Joker Cage instantly vanished. "Spin?!" Heber thought, readying himself. As the slower delivery approached, he backed off slightly, reading the dips and spins.

Suddenly, an instinctive movement crossed his mind; his body reacted on its own. Heber jumped into the air, his bat connecting perfectly with the ball, he lifted it over the wicketkeeper and send it soaring into the stands. However, the impact causing him to lose his balance. In a split second, he performed a smooth cartwheel, using the momentum to roll gracefully back onto his feet as he landed. 

For a brief moment, the entire ground fell silent, absorbing the astonishing display of skill.

Rovan glanced at Venus who shook his head dazed beside Emaad who stared at the stands waiting for the ball to be returned.

"Haha!" Seon Yul laughed incredulously.

Back in Karachi's pavilion, Alan, Elias, Feng, Adam, Isa, Haruf, Xavier, Helios, Nagi, Kazuna along with the rest blinked surprised.

"Acrobatics, huh." Musa smiled.

Rauf flashed a faint grin as the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Jones, Wasim… a jumping scoop and a cart wheel and yes! A six for the kings!!" Maaz exclaimed.

"The crowd goes wild! That's not just a six; that's a moment of sheer brilliance! What a combination of skill and flair from Heber!" Jones remarked.

"Oh my god…" Milan and Yaaz gasped, slumping in their seats.

"Crazy… they are crazy." David remarked.

Haitam revealed a satisfied smile.

Back in Islamabad's pavilion, "Whoo~" Hamit whistled impressed while Ulhas glanced at Basid, Murad, Romeo, Nolan and Leif who observed silently. Challenged expressions lighting their faces. 

Heber stood on the crease, speechless and in awe of his own performance, until Aigou pulled him back to reality with a pat on his shoulder. "What else are you hiding, brat?" he asked.

Heber looked around, confused. "I-I didn't know. It just happened…"

"Well, good for you…" Aigou pushed him toward the non-striker's end, adding, "You haven't just lit up your path; you've set the entire stadium ablaze." "

He seriously combined acrobatics with batting…" Damian said, still in disbelief.

"Let's stop underestimating him now, okay Ezekiel, Adam, Ryan?" Feng suggested, still unable to process what he had just witnessed.

Elias, covering his mouth with his hand to hide his smile, remained speechless.

"That's why…" Alan said, his expression hidden, "I told him the next time I face him he better shows all his tricks."

"Really?" Azazel replied.

"You think I'd lie about something like this, little black kitten?" Alan teased.

"Kitten…?" Azazel raised an eyebrow, slightly embarrassed.

"Well... did you expect him to pull that off, Kenzo?" Helios asked.

Kenzo shrugged his shoulders with pride, "Honestly, I don't expect anything less from all of you, Heber's just proved it."

Feng raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "Did you take your meds today? You've been uncharacteristically nice lately, Your Highness."

"Yeah, are you going to spare us from your torment, stupid king?" Ryan chimed in. Kenzo clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"You little rascals, what's your problem? When I'm harsh, there's an issue. Now that I'm nice, it's a problem too. What do you want from me?" Kenzo retorted annoyed.

"Pft!" Poseidon and Xavier struggled to contain their laughter.

Cassiel smiled, asking, "Heber only used acrobatics while fielding, right?"

"Hm. He couldn't quite figure out how to incorporate it into his batting because acrobatics require movement and space. Batting, on the other hand, limits that since you have to stay within the crease and protect your wicket at all costs," Kenzo explained.

"Still, his skill, even if it was a fluke1, has opened a door to a new style of batting," Cassiel remarked.

"Absolutely. If he perfects it, Heber's batting could reach new heights," Seraph added.

As the last over of the powerplay approached, Juhan took the ball from the umpire and headed to his mark.

"Juhan…" Rovan called, but Juhan remained unresponsive.

"He's on a silent protest, Vice-Captain Rovan. Let him be," Ibn Sena replied.

"Mm." Rovan took his position.

Aigou positioned ready on the batting crease, waited for ball. The first delivery of the over, a sharp inswinger, Aigou countered it with a dot return.

Ibn Sena grabbing the ball passed it to Juhan, who wiped it with his sleeve, going back. Running through the 30-yard circle, Juhan stepped onto the popping crease, whispering, "Gale Force!"

The wind behind the ball amplified its speed and swing.

Aigou clicked his tongue, struggling to track its movement. "It's the delivery that injured me…" This time, instead of swinging in, the ball suddenly veered outside. Aigou quickly executed a late cut, snatching a quick single.

Mikael, retrieving the ball, threw it back to Juhan.

As Aigou stepped into the non-striker's end, he shot a smug glance at Juhan. "Heh, missed my face this time?" he taunted.

Juhan smirked, "I never aimed for it. But seeing you scamper back like a scared cat is disappointing."

Aigou turned to Heber, giving a thumbs up. "I have to score runs too, sir pacer. I don't have a choice," he responded.

Heber, steady at the crease, scanned the field for gaps.

Meanwhile, Juhan prepared for his delivery, gripping the ball firmly in his palm and angling the seam slightly. As he sprinted through the 30-yard circle and approached the popping crease, he subtly adjusted his grip, delivering an off-cutter with a roll of his fingers across the seam. The ball pitched on a good length just outside off-stump.

Heber, expecting a standard pace delivery, adjusted his stance to drive through the covers. But instead of zipping through, the ball gripped the pitch and deviated slightly away from him. "What?" Heber muttered, caught off guard.

The subtle deviation was enough to catch the outside edge of his bat as he attempted the drive. The ball flew off the edge, heading straight toward second slip, where Hamza was positioned.

"Catch it!" Juhan and Rovan shouted as Hamza reacted swiftly, diving to his right to take a sharp, low catch. The fielders and crowd erupted in celebration.

"He's edged it! And it's brilliantly taken at second slip! The left-arm pacer delivers a masterful off-cutter, with just enough movement to find the edge. Heber was set to drive, but that slight deviation has done him in. A well-executed delivery, and Juhan secures a crucial first wicket for Islamabad United!" commented Jones.

"Heber Bin Saad walks back to the pavilion on 20 off 15. A splendid partnership of 49 from 32 balls, just one run short of a fifty partnership. But what a powerplay by the Kings! Next in is Feng Mir Ozer…" Maaz continued.

As Heber walked back, Aigou offered a reassuring smile, "Well done. Hold your head high and pass on the spirit you couldn't fully show to the next player."

Heber nodded, content, "I will."

As he left, Wasif flashed a parting smile, casually waving goodbye.

Heber twitched his brow annoyed.

Feng entered the ground, tapping his glove against Heber's as they crossed paths. Both the high schoolers and middle schoolers welcoming Heber with subtle smiles.

"Enjoyed yourself out there?" Alan asked as Heber stepped outside the boundary mark.

"Enjoyed? That was a roller-coaster ride," Heber replied, handing his helmet and bat to Poseidon while Azazel passed him a water bottle.

"Any regrets?" Elias asked.

Heber took a sip, exhaling deeply. "Plenty. But what I've learned today is that next time, there won't be any," he replied confidently.

"Did spin get you again, Heber?" Kenzo asked.

Heber nodded, "Spins and cutters are my worst enemies, that's why I struggle against the spin deliveries even Ryan bowls me."

Ryan listened silently.

"And that acrobatic move?" Isa added.

"Even I was speechless on that one. What do you think, esteemed seniors... can cricket and acrobatics be merged?" Heber asked the high schoolers.

The high schoolers shared confident grins.

"If there's a will… then, even life can be merged with cricket," Rauf replied earnestly.

Surprised, Heber gazed ahead with a smile, "If that's the case, then I have no choice," he mumbled.

Aigou finishing the powerplay with a massive straight six into the commentators' stands. Karachi Kings had reached their team fifty, scoring 56 runs for the loss of one wicket, the run rate 9.33, heading into the powerplay break.