(Part 8)

Back in the ground...

"Kazuna and Poseidon. I want you to guard the outer boundary." Isa told, "And, Helios will have the first over."

"Yes." the three responded.

"Xavier will take the first slip, Feng is the wicket keeper…" Isa continued to position them. And, once everyone was designated to their places Isa stood alongside them in a circle.

"Just like Coach Pedro told us, we both are going to face disadvantages and advantages. Well, we would have more advantages if we had gotten batting first however, let's not fret about that." Isa rubbed the back of his hairs. A gentle smile enveloping his face, he looked at every single one of them. "Our aim is to not lose but loss always hangs upon our neck. So, I want you to trust me. Whether, we are losing or winning, I want you to believe me. Can you do that?" he asked.

"We do, your highness. The rest is up for the middleschoolers to decide, though." Aaron replied, resting his intertwined hands behind his neck.

Kazuna and Aigou hummed softly.

"Sigh~ you are our Captain. We ain't got a choice." Feng shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think I still completely believe him though…" he thought cynically.

Xavier and Poseidon nodded.

"Yeah, all is well. If we are to win." Heber winked.

Ryan too agreed beside Azazel and Helios.

Isa nodded. "Very well. Pacers, I am depending on you throughout the powerplay and further while Islamabad will be relying on their powerplay batters. The pitch is still wet from the rain's impact so while it dries up, Islamabad has the advantage to score whereas, we may face a damp pitch while chasing in the later half. This will be problematic since we won't be able to score profoundly." he explained.

"To sum it up, we have to take early wickets and stop excessive run scoring in the first ten overs to gain an upper hand. It's not too cloudy today so we don't have worry about overcast conditions, got it?" Kazuna summarized.

"Got it." The rest replied, dabbing their fists together and dispersing.

"Seems like they have positioned themselves." Nagi pushed his glasses up assessing the fielding positions.

"They are going to get a right and left handed paring right from the start. Isa has set a good field." Haruf observed.

"Azazel on point, Heber on cover, Isa on mid-off, Xavier on first slip, Ryan on mid-on, Aaron on shortbackward square leg, Aigou has taken square leg while on the boundary Poseidon and Kazuna on Fine leg and Third man stand respectively. With Helios the opening baller and Feng the WK*1 it's not bad~" Senri chanted, assured.

Seraph hummed lightly.

Orion however, clicked his tongue, a sneaky smirk resting his face. "That right hand left hand won't be a problem as well. If those middleschoolers pay attention and do as told." he stated, plugging the earplugs in his ears.

Nagi and Ren exchanged clueless glances while Alan looked at Orion in wonder. "Oh? Do they have a plan in mind?" he thought in anticipation. 

"And we are back, cricket fanatics! The match that the entire PSL-loving nation has been eagerly waiting for is about to commence right before our eyes. Yes, it's Karachi Kings versus Islamabad United, played in Lahore. The Lahore stadium, a spectacle to behold, is adorned in the colors of red, blue, and orange. There is a majority of Islamabad supporters, but the Karachi fans are fiercer than ever. Now that we've reached this point, who do you think will come out on top, Maaz?" Jones asked.

"To be honest, it's a 50-50. Both teams have won their previous matches and demonstrated their strengths. This time, they both have included experienced highschoolers: Isa Sikandar, Kazuna Al Haris, Aigou Mir Yuaan, and Aaron Noel Herve from Karachi Kings, and Seon Yul, Rovan Baig, Wasim Azhal, and Juhan Fahim from Islamabad United. So, nothing is certain," Maaz replied.

"Yup, nonetheless, this game will decide it all, so let's look forward to it," Wasim added.

"Surely, haha!" Maaz laughed.

The on field umpires positioning themselves. And, Ibn Sena and Asim stepping inside the ground as Islamabad's openers, Helios stretched his arms all the way to his feet and stood back up again, recalling.

(Yesterday)

"Ibn Sena, a third year middleschooler and a right-handed batsman, is a very versatile player. It is said that he is able to adapt in any situation of the game. For example, if you turn offensive he turns defensive, if you turn defensive he goes offensive and if you show even a speck of weakness he turns aggressive. He somewhat behaves like Aigou. As for any special ability, from our study of their previous matches he was selected once in the match against Multan since they only played 2 matches. He was able to score a fifty as an opener in only 9 overs. So, with our intelligence gathering, he is a mind tackling player, his ability will be related to mind. However, you better be wary of his every move." Seles informed.

Helios wondered silently.

"As for Asim, he is third year highschooler and left- handed batsman and…" Seles continued however, Slam!! Orion banged his hand on the table snickering devilishly, "And I'll tell you how to beat the pulp out of him! It's as easy as snapping a neck, haha!"

Helios, Xavier and Azazel gulped, glancing at each other, startled.

...

Helios exhaled, grabbing the ball from the balling side umpire. Moment after moment, the crowd roared and players' hearts thumped.

Isa looked around, showing Helios an okay gesture.

"Ready?" Feng asked Ibn Sena, who was rubbing his feet on the batting crease.

Ibn Sena nodded with a gleam in his eye, his chin raised. "Yep, all geared up to thrash you." he replied arrogantly.

Feng twitched an eyebrow in annoyance. "Ah, I see. Since, Kenzo is not around to annoy us, you're filling his place," he said, clapping his wicket-keeping gloves together.

"Haha, just kidding. I wasn't letting his absence be felt," Ibn Sena jested.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Feng replied in disbelief, rolling his eyes as Xavier chuckled.

Finally, the countdown had begun.

Helios spun the ball in his hands, standing outside the 30 inched circle. As soon as the umpire gestured play, Ibn Sena tapped his bat on the crease while Helios rushed towards the popping crease delivering the first ball of the innings.

A loud cheer by the crowd, and Helios left the ball, with precision and power. "Twilight Sunbreak!" he whispered as the ball, with the pitch's impact travelled inside the wicket. Ibn Sena immediately countered the ball back into Helios's hands.

"OH!" Feng, Azazel and Aigou went. Helios smiled heading back.

"Wow…" Ibn Sena remarked.

"Good job." Aigou clapped his hands.

Delivering the second ball, Helios once again aimed the 'Twilight Sunbreak' gaining another dot return as Heber grabbed the ball passing it to Helios.

"Aiming into the wicket and full of precision. Helios Zadeh and his ever evolving, confident and concentrated bowling. A solid weapon for Karachi Kings." Jones commented.

Ibn Sena looked around the field setting his glove. Delivering the third ball of the over, Helios stepped on the popping crease whispering, "Sun's surge!"

The ball landing straight on the pitch, however, moving further away from the wicket. Ibn Sena, read the delivery and stepped two steps towards his right, raising his bat up and enforcing power on it as it travelled over Heber through extra cover and into the boundary claiming a four.

The crowd applauded stridently, "Islamabad, Islamabad! Islamabad!"

"The slips were placed, so an outswinger was completely obvious." Sena whispered glancing at Xavier behind and showing Asim a thumbs up.

"A well-earned first boundary over the cover to break pressure, that's Islamabad united for you." Maaz remarked. Helios, grabbing the ball, headed back.

"Don't worry about it." Isa patted his back.

Helios nodded.

Running through the 30 inch circle, Helios stepped on the popping crease delivering an outswinger once more.

Ibn Sena's timing of the shot slightly off this time. The ball ended in Azazel's hands as a single was secured. Asim on strike, the leg and off sides were reversed. He tapped his bat on the crease looking around.

Helios delivering the second last ball of the over rushed towards the crease. In his mind only single voice echoed.

.....

"Bowl him! Shatter his stumps and sent him back!" Orion bellowed, laughing demonically.

"What…?" Azazel blinked in disbelief while Seles exhaled a confused smile.

"Pardon?" Helios too asked.

"Tch! You still didn't get it?" Orion raised his brow annoyed, "Aim right on his wicket and blow them off! A bowl out! I faced him before, if he hasn't corrected his posture that suddenly shows openings in the middle of the game, then he is a good for gone, highschooler. Deserving a 'No.15'. Not a big deal. However, if he starts once, then you all are as good as gone." he rested his back on the chair, twirling his hairs.

"Aim for a bowl out, hun~" Xavier whispered amused.

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