(Part 3)

"Well, it seems we are having quite a friendly chit chat amongst the two teams even after a dismissal. What a rare moment this is... haha." Maaz commented.

"Don't tell me he is cursing himself?" Ryan tried to guess Kenzo's awkward behavior.

"I don't think so, he might be unhappy since his words worked over me." Elias corrected with a smile.

"Huh?! Did he jinx you?" Feng asked.

Elias shrugged his shoulders masking cluelessness.

"Augh… can't he just keep his mouth shut for once?" Damian twitched his brow.

"Sigh~ whatever happened has now happened. We can only leave the rest to the two of them now." Aaron crossed his arms looking ahead.

"Wow… dismissing Elias was like kicking a football. I can't believe my eyes." Hafi rubbed his eyes once more.

"Mael's bowling is gold. I saw that coming." Suleiman said.

"Really?" Naeem inquired.

"Of course, Elias is a spin returner. Always on the 3rd or 4th position from his team's batting line; here he was an opener. A position he rarely takes; only when there are entirely spinners from the rival team or when he thinks the opponents won't give him a hard time. That's why he would definitely face difficulty against us since the first six overs are mostly pacers in this match." Suleiman told.

"Then why didn't he inform his team about this? Don't tell me he took us lightly?" Raza asked.

"Who knows what's going in his mind. He isn't called a Mastermind for nothing. The way he kept a smile on his face while returning to the pavilion shows how much confident he was even after losing his wicket." Uzair added.

"Just assuming this annoys me though. What does confident after losing his wicket means? Not like he'll come back or change anything." Hafi clenched his fists annoyed.

Suleiman glancing at him once again shifted his attention towards the ground. The 4th over again given to Orhan, Kenzo played the first two deliveries.Taking 3 runs, Senri stepped on the batting cease reading the fielders. Playing a dot return on his very first ball played. "A right handed pacer…" he observed standing attentively once more.

Orhan next, delivered a swift outswinger. Stepping forward, Senri played the ball straight as it travelled high for a six slightly towards the long off.

"Oh! This went high! What shot! Straight towards the commentator's hall, the biggest six of the innings with the distance 98 meters!! By Senri Ibn Daud!" Jones commented.

"WOAH~!!" the crowd went as Senri dabbed his fist against Kenzo's.

Nile handing the ball to Orhan patted his back. Scoring 2 more runs, the fourth over concluded with 39 runs at a loss of 1 wicket. Exchanging places after the over's end Senri once again took the batting crease. Seeing Zhangli as the 5th over baller he smiled, "A little bit break from the pace? That's good."

Kenzo observing Zhangli from the non-striker's end remained vigilant. "Xian Zhangli, a right handed off spinner and someone not to be taken lightly. They say he has learnt his bowling from one of the most famous New Zealand's current U-18 off spinner, what was his name again…" Ren tried to remember.

"Zion Theodore." Haris said.

"Eh?" Cassiel blinked, "Zion… Theodore? That New zealander 3rd year highschooler who crushed the South African batting line in the under-18 Asian cup with a 6 wicket haul1?!"

The middleschoolers listened stunned.

"A 6 wicket haul taker?!" Ezekiel uttered in disbelief.

"Yup, they are related through a long distance family connection but Zhangli did learn under his mentorship." Nagi affirmed.

"But, aren't they of the same age? To learn from him…?" Xavier inquired, impressed.

"Same age but different talents and achievements. Zion compared to Zhangli is a world known rookie to step under the limelight, while Zhangli is still in his learning stage." Evan told.

"So you mean… if we want to stand before Zion we have to get past him first." Poseidon comprehended.

"That's right." Kazuna concurred.

Senri twirling his bat, looked up. Zhangli setting the positions around the field, prepared to bowl. "All slips are once again removed…" Senri studied, "And they have placed a fielder on the short leg." 

Zhangli soon delivered the first ball of the 5th over. "Cannon Break!" he uttered, flicking the ball between his thumb and bent middle finger he aimed the ball at a good pitching length.

Senri keeping his eyes on the ball bended a little low as it approached. About to collide with his knee pad, he instantly kept his bat before the ball hitting straight through the pitch. Zhangli abruptly tried to grab it however, the ball went past Kenzo's wicket (Kenzo immediately keeping his bat on the crease) towards the boundary for a four.

"Oh, that Carrom delivery was meant for an Lbw but ended as a four. A smart move by Senri. After scoring his hundred against the Australians, in the 5 T-20 match series last month, he is playing quite boldly and aggressively from the start." Wasim commented amused, "Both teams here are giving their all, their very best."

"5 T-20 match series? Did you play against Australia last month?!" Feng asked surprised after hearing.

"Of course, we just came back from Australia, did you thought we were sightseeing there?" Orion rolled his eyes.

"And who won?" Poseidon inquired curious.

Isa gave a confident smirk, "Guess who~?"

"YOU?!" Ryan and Adam uttered in disbelief.

Noah nodded, "Yeah, we won 3-2. It was really hard though. Beating Australia in Australia was no joke."

"But… I wonder if they went easy on us." Aigou assumed.

"Easy?" Azazel repeated.

"Yeah, just like Rauf wasn't with us, their captain was also not available for the series as well. I remember he was in the rehabilitation stage. As for the top two after their Captain that includes their vice-captain too. They were participating in the Asia cup." Ren told. 

The middleschoolers slightly disappointed after hearing Ren faced back to the ground. "You should've won the entire series." Ezekiel exhaled losing interest.

"Yeah, 3-2? Not inspiring." Ryan added.

"I knew you would say that." Zachariah opened his azure blue eye, squinting it low. "But still it's Australia. World's Second fastest juvenile bowler. Two of the world's best batsmen, Kenzo might know one of them too. Five times U-18 World cup champions. Don't you expect them to fight back?"

The middle schoolers remained silent unable to retort. "You said 'Rehabilitation2.' What happened to Australian Captain?" Helios asked.

"Arm injury, he sprained his arm in the World cup finals 2 years ago causing serious damage to his elbow ligament. He stopped playing International cricket after that to recover." Nagi told.

Helios surprised for a while whispered, "I see…"

"He will come this time right?" Adam asked curious.

"Yeah, he will. He assured us when we were returning." Haruf beamed.

"To think they'll be going through something like this too…" Xavier thought, "We really don't know anything about the outside world." 

"Nonetheless, stop thinking about the Aussies 3now and look at the match ahead of you. If you can't pass this stage today. The Australian's whom you are so curious about; will ruin you and your pride tomorrow." Evan warned blatantly.

Gabriel twitched his brow annoyed beside Ryan.

"I guess you're right…" Feng agreed out of the blue, his eyes downcast with a tight lipped smile covering his face.

Stunned over his unusual reply, Helios glanced at Poseidon and Ezekiel concerned. Xavier too narrowed his gaze confused.

"I find it hard to believe coming from you though." Alan's voice interrupted their thoughts as Feng looked up. Alan's back visible with a few feet gap.

"A certain someone who retorts all rationality now accepting it, I don't accept it coming from you, Feng. So after this match…" Alan glanced sideways, "Return back to your usual self. I miss the easy going, carefree and optimistic Feng Mir Ozer a lot."

Feng gasped for a moment, averting his gaze. 

Taking three more runs on further two balls, Kenzo tapped his bat waiting for the 4th delivery. Zhangli stepping on the popping crease delivered a top spinner. Bowled at full pitch length, Kenzo without waiting for the ball to tap against the pitch, stepped two steps forward and slammed his bat for a huge six over the deep cover.

"WOAH!!" the crowd cheered as the ball went into the audiences stands.

"Tch!" Zhangli clicked his tongue annoyed heading back.

Kenzo removing his helmet wiped his sweat.

"Good job." Senri complemented coming over.

Alan smiled delighted, "Power to its peak hun, your highness."

"This is coming from a rookie against Senior Zhangli right…" Raza whispered stunned.

"We might've thought highschoolers were the main deal but to think a rookie, is stuck in our throats? Giving a hard time to us highschoolers? Unbelievable, haha…" Uzair chuckled in disbelief.

"Kenzo ShahJahan, has played Europeon open league matches and achieved the title of third best juvenile batsman amongst them. A ranker against all associate rising stars, don't take him lightly." Naeem warned.

Suleiman tapping his finger on the arm rest glanced at Rauf and Evan who looked at the match attentively.