(Part 11)

Feng coming back alongside Seraph, immediately embraced Xavier who stood in the front. Light hiccups escaping his lips.

"Hehe… there's no need to cry, little idiot." Xavier patted his back, beside Mikael and Ryan.

"Yeah, you were so cool! And the sixes you smacked at the end were the coolest! You even took us by surprise." Heber remarked.

"Indeed." Cassiel agreed.

Senri walking to Feng ruffled his hairs, "Come on, there's no time to shed tears. We have a match to win ahead."

"Hm." Feng wiped his tears in agreement.

"Give him a bottle of water first and let him relax. You guys are crueler than us." Kazuna said.

"Oh, right. I forgot." Mikael went to pick up a bottle.

"Hehe…" Feng chuckled suddenly his gaze halting at Gabriel, who stared back at him. Unable to find words once more, Feng looked away. Gabriel too refracted his gaze aside.

Realizing his mistake once more, "Augh~! Again! I looked away again!" Feng cried in disbelief, shoving his head amid his knees.

"Geez, you better apologize to him if you did something wrong, Feng. It might not look like it but he's really worried about you." Christopher sat before him.

"I know but I just can't do it… he will be so angry. He might just eat me!" Feng shuddered.

"Wild imagination…" Ryan added.

"Very wild, indeed." Helios chuckled.

"What's happening here?" Alan asked, sitting in between the little circle they had made.

"Nothing, just resolving a little issue." Azazel smiled.

"Ah…" Alan wondered.

"You worry too much, Feng. Isn't he your brother? When did he ever eat you alive ever before? Every day we see you roaming here and there all fit and happy." Ezekiel uttered sarcastic.

"Excuse me, what are you implying?" Feng asked humorless. 

"Anyways, pluck up your courage a little bit and after this match make sure you resolve this issue. As confidently as you faced Nile, I am sure you can face him too." Poseidon encouraged.

Feng still doubting his apologizing capabilities hesitated to reply. Little Will seeing him anxious sat before him excluding a loving beam. A sudden flush of joy and a wave of hope emerging on Feng's cheeks, he ruffled his fur, immediately standing up and calling, "Gabriel…"

However, Senri interrupted, "Come on, everyone. It's time we head to the field."

Words again left unsaid, Feng turned around stepping in the ground.

"Feng." Alan called.

"Hm?" Feng pivoted around.

"Smile and give your best." Alan encouraged caringly.

Feng gasping for a moment, raised his thumbs up, chuckling innocently before leaving for the ground with Senri and the rest. 

Back in Peshawar Zalmi's pavillion, Nile in incredulity of what had occurred in the last over pondered frustrated. Sitting on the front lane and tapping his feet on the ground constantly, he covered his hands over his mouth, elbows resting over his thighs. A frown on his face, he glared at Feng on the field.

"He… played the last over so aggressively and effortlessly when he shouldn't even have the slightest bit of strength to raise his bat, so how? What happened? Did he develop a countering ability? But I couldn't sense anything or did I take him too lightly…" he thought over and over.

"What's wrong? Couldn't attain what you wanted?" Hafiz asked from behind, his casual smile evident.

Nile shot a sideway glare.

A wordless tension brewing up Zaki, Omar, Zhangli and Ishaq looked at each other silent.

Naeem stood up, "Alright, let bygones be bygones. What we have to do now is strike back. Target of 174 in 20 overs (120 balls) is not easy to attain but it isn't impossible. The pitch is medium paced; so make sure you give your best in the powerplay to make things easier for you in the second half of the innings." he advised.

"Okay." Siraj concurred, standing all geared up.

"Captain, we are ready." Iosif turned around stretching himself with his bat right and left. Suleiman looked at two who returned him a convincing smile.

"We won't let you down. Nor will we let Peshawar down." Siraj assured.

"So watch us play. The results will be entirely different from yesterday." Iosif added. 

The ground on the other hand was decked with Karachi's players, reporters and staff members. The 30 inched circle filled with boys as Senri guided the middleschoolers their positions. Ren and Nagi without consulting further stood towards the boundary's 'Third man' and 'Deep backward square leg' respectively.

"Xavier will take the 'first slip', Kenzo 'Point', Feng 'Cover', Gabriel 'Mid-off', Cassiel 'Mid-on', Azazel on 'Silly Mid-on' as discussed." Senri positioned. "And you?" Cassiel inquired.

"I'll be on the Square leg and Seraph will be the opening bowler." Senri continued.

"Okay." Xavier replied. The boys immediately dispersing.

"Listen up everyone, may I have your attention please? Before you all dismiss." Elias asked coming over.

The boys stopped, turning around. "Hm?" Gabriel hummed, signaling him to speak ahead.

"The batting order Peshawar holds; are three batsmen; all middleschoolers and 4 all-rounders, from which 2 of them are middleschoolers and two highschoolers. What I am implying is that if we take early three wickets that includes the middleschoolers wickets, we'll be under less pressure in the upcoming 14 overs." Elias told.

"Yeah, we should definitely take the three of them out on the spot." Azazel agreed. 

"That's written. I'll leave it you all." Kenzo turned to Xavier, Seraph, Cassiel, Gabriel and Azazel affirming.

"Yes." they all replied. "Less mistakes and no catch drops should be the main aim for this powerplay. Best of Luck all of you!" Senri dabbed Cassiel's back soon dispersing.

"Little highness." Senri called before Kenzo left.

Kenzo glanced sideways.

"You do trust your team a lot, don't you?" Senri asked.

Unable to comprehend his sudden question, Kenzo remained silent.

"As if they'll do anything as you say. Don't you feel that you are depending on them a lot sometimes?" Senri continued. His gaze fixed and expression turning solemn for a moment, "What if they aren't able to do what you've said, then? Should we prepare to lose?"

Kenzo's expression hidden, after a moment of silence, he revealed a light beam, "Oh… I see. I am a batsman so I understand where you're coming from but… aren't you doing the same now, Base ranked 6?"

Senri blinked.

"I trust them because I trust myself that I can lead them and they do to. I have seen them as my opponents and as my team mates at the same time. Aren't you the same? Senior Nagi, Elias and Ren wordlessly took their positions as if they had read your mind, you only had to inform us. That's the kind of leader I aspire to be. To comprehend thoughts." Kenzo told.

"As for my dependency… I won't retort. I am more dependent than anyone else in the team however, assuming that they could not perform well somewhere or at any time…" his voice drifting towards a light whisper he walked away, "I too have confidence to shake up tides."

A poised declaration and honest remarks, Senri smiled. "Very well."

Fielders set and the second innings ready to commence. The two openers from Peshawar Zalmi stepped inside the ground making way towards the crease. The umpire handing the ball to Seraph. Seraph studied it, soon warming up with Cassiel.

"A spectacular night this is and we are back with the run chase! Peshawar Zalmi in need of 174 runs within 20 overs. As unpredictable as cricket is none knows on whom victory will shine upon. The opening batsman standing on the pitch, Iosif Yaroslav and Kamiluddin Siraj both emerging youngsters of Peshawar who presented a delightful show in the previous match against Lahore…" the commentary went.

"KARACHI KINGS! PESHAWAR ZALMI!" cheers high and pressure unfolding, Alan stared at the ground, his composure calm.

"Best of luck!!" Adam cheered beside Mikael and Heber.

The highschoolers including Rauf anticipating the results shared curious glances beside the coaches who studied deeply, their tablets and laptops all on work mode.

With this, Seraph tossed the ball up and down whispering, "Iosif on the striker's end and Siraj on the non-striker's one… alright, it's now or never. Just aim for the wicket!"

Observing the fielders ready, as soon as the umpire gestured play, he ran towards the popping crease; his golden eyes glinting fervently, aimed ahead only towards victory.