Once again raising his spirits, Feng stepped on the batting crease tapping his bat. "Please just don't strike me I'd appreciate that." he said to Azazel.
Azazel showed a thumbs up.
Senri and Alan glancing at each other smiled.
"In the end nobody can understand you better than your own friends. Look at his face now, all brightened up." Senri noticed.
"Yeah…" Alan agreed, "We still might not know what exactly happened to him but I am glad we knew what's troubling him."
"Senior Senri." Feng called.
Senri looked aside, "Hm?"
"Get ready! We'll be taking runs now." Feng notified.
Senri showed him a perfect sign, glancing at Alan who patted his back heading towards the square leg.
9, 10, 11 and until midnight the boys bowled and Feng batted practicing hard.
"Huff, huff, this will be… the final over. We are exhausted…" Heber grabbed his knees panting.
Seraph handing the ball to Gabriel agreed, "Yeah. It's midnight."
Completing the last over, the boys headed back.
"How was it? Are you feeling confident now?" Ezekiel tugged Feng's shoulders who nodded, "Yeah…" "Though, I might not know what will happen when I step in the ground tomorrow. But I'll make sure to remember all your advises." he added.
"And don't play high is the first advice. I know you are trying to overcome your resolve but some of your short shots went as catches since you are out of practice. Aim for the ground, just like you always do." Mikael ruffled his hairs.
Feng hearing him narrowed his gaze in complete silence.
"Augh~ now I just want to take a shower." Cassiel uttered exhausted.
"And I want to drink something warm, right Alan?" Adam added.
"Hm~? No… I just want to sleep." Alan rubbed his eyes drowsy.
"Hehe." Xavier and Poseidon chuckled.
"You didn't even do anything though…" Helios teased, dabbing his head.
Alan agreeing, moved his head up and down. "No strength to fight back…" he murmured.
Feng walking beside them instantly realized turning around, "Senior Senri..."
"Here I am. Where do you think you are going to find me?" Senri all of a sudden tugged his arm around his neck startling him.
"Yikes! You scared me!" Feng shrieked.
"Haha..." Senri ruffled his hairs amused, "Go on now." he pushed him ahead.
All of them heading inside the hotel. The surroundings fell into silence, with only the faint rustle of leaves audible. Senri instantly halting, pivoted around on his heels. His once-neutral gaze transforming into a menacing glare. He fixed his attention on a silhouette concealed within the shadows. "You see…" his lips curved into a sharp, threatening grin, "I hate stalkers. Even if you aren't behind me. It won't take me a second to get rid of you or know who you are. Don't say that I didn't warn you then."
"As expected of a senior~" the mysterious silhouette of a young male chanted stepping outside the shadows, clapping his hands. A golden jacket reflecting with the moonlight, he crossed his arms. Tilting his face upwards he revealed a smug sneer, "But remember, do whatever you want. Feng Mir Ozer will stay the same as he was in the past. For once he sees me again he'd go back to square one. That's how useful fear is. All your efforts are useless!" His eyes glinted a shade of malicious green.
Senri smiled, finally comprehending, "I see so it's you… everything makes a whole lot of sense now. But… who the hell are you to judge him?" his voice taking a grave turn.
The figure narrowed his gaze.
"Feng rises or falls, wins or losses, fears or not. What does that got to do with you? Until and unless you are the cause of all this mess…" Senri guessed. "Listen up you brat, first judge yourself before judging others. Do you believe you're superior just because Feng fears you? Well No, you're entirely mistaken. In reality, it's you who is gripped by it. For you've been closely watching him progress, worried that he might overcome him flaws and become strong. Attacking behind ones back is cowardly yet, someone who without a word progresses himself out of his fear is a gallant hero." he exhaled, "Now in which category do you position yourself in?"
The figure posing indifference remained silent as Senri turned around, "Those who don't pay heed shouldn't be talked to. We'll settle everything tomorrow anyway. So best of luck." "And, sorry I thwarted your plan to harm Feng since I arrived earlier before you could." he winked proud of himself, immediately heading inside.
"Do whatever you want the result will be same." the figure claimed.
"Oh~ I'll bet my coins on Feng then." Senri closed the glass door from inside.
The figure revealing a white cock ball, clenched it tight, "Thwarted my plan? You made things a lot easier for me." he went back grinning dangerously attaining an upsetting, silent victory.
(Next Day= 5 Pm) [Peshawar Stadium (PSL 5th match)]
The stadium bustling with the energy of the crowd, thunderous cheers of fans, and iconic PSL anthems reverberated through the air. The sun began its descent below the horizon as the anticipation reached its peak. Karachi and Peshawar, the two competing teams, made their grand entrances to their respective pavilions, eagerly looking forward to their second showdown. Amidst the excitement, the stadium staff and reporters gathered at the heart of the action to deliberate the match's intricacies and unfolding proceedings.
In the dressing room, Nidou, Musa and Mir provided support and guidance to the middle schoolers, while Pedro and Seles exchanged crucial player standings data received from Naeem.
Out on the field, half of the high schoolers were deep in study mode, meticulously inspecting the ground and analyzing the pitch for any strategic advantages whereas, the other half engaged themselves in spirited conversations with Peshawar highschoolers, forging connections and adding to the electric atmosphere of the eagerly anticipated clash.
"Just like last one there is no great difference in the pitch." Evan knocked on the pitch, checking its surface.
Rauf crouching low stroked the ground. Feeling light grass on the surface, he picked up the gravel in his hands pondering for a while.
"The ground is grassy, full of moisture. Pacers are gonna rock today." Senri added coming over.
"But… why didn't they perform well last time? We are towards northern, cooler areas and pacers have quite the advantage here since they acquire more seam and bouncing. Yet their performance last time… even Helios was confused." Isa asked.
"It was the first time they played at night. Flashlights, humidity level awareness and not to mention their bowling lengths were bit off too." Rauf mentioned.
"Exactly. First, they are used to playing in the daytime, therefore they are unaware of taking humidity level and reverse swinging of the ball into consideration within their conditions. Secondly, they have played a lot in Karachi's dry and dusty pitches on which spinners have the upper hand while pacers improve changing their pace and bowling lengths every time as per the situation arrived. As it was their first try over northern side pitches, they didn't realize their gifted advantage." Zachariah explained.
"But… Poseidon, despite being disadvantageous on the last pitch scored more wickets, how so? I thought he would be the one in trouble since the pitches here aren't rough enough, providing grip or turn." Aaron asked.
Rauf stood up, "Aaron, if it were you in his place, what would have you done in that situation?"
"Me?" Aaron pondered for moment, "I'll try different variations, use drift or give uneven bounce…" "Ah!" he instantly realized.
"Poseidon too used diverse variations. Slow spin balls, Googly and sudden good deliveries like leg breaks to urge the batsman into playing high shots." Evan explained, "Balling different variations is quite the talent as a spinner and at such a young age. He won't accept it however, he has quite the knack to study his surroundings and his opponents well, simultaneously varying his own balling style to where it fits."
"Come on all of you, Nagi is calling." Elias instantly called taking their attention.
The highschoolers nodding headed back to the pavilion to join the middleschoolers.
Rauf walking back was suddenly confronted by Suleiman as he halted. His expression a never-changing stoic one and eyes shut, he shoved his hands in his pockets exhaling inaudibly.
Suleiman on the other hand observed him with an unbroken stare.
"What's happened yesterday?" Rauf soon broke the brewing awkward silence.
"Talking about our loss?" Suleiman guessed his curiosity.
Rauf slightly raised his brow and opened his royal blue orbs.
"It was all middleschoolers yesterday and it was their first time experience. Not that we lost a humiliating defeat, don't you dare lower your guard just because of that. Today 'Everything's' different." Suleiman warned walking past him.
Rauf stepped inside the pavilion, "Suleiman…" he uttered, "Had I taken you as a joke 2 years ago and even right now. I wouldn't have send my best players out to perform before and today too."
Suleiman narrowing his gaze remained silent.