The ball once again in Zhangli's grasp, he delivered an aggressive off spinner to Kenzo's shoulder. Kenzo stepping aside, evaded the entire delivery. Landing outside the legal balling line, the umpire raised his arms horizontally declaring a wide. Kenzo stood straight removing his helmet and rubbing his eyes once again.
"It has become surprisingly hard to play I wonder why… but my eyes feel moist. It's hard to look ahead…" he thought opening them once again; looking up at the floodlights. Irritation in his eyes and sensation of glare appearing, he looked down again, "Tch! The same nuisance I faced against Lahore..."
"What's wrong?" Senri walked over.
Kenzo shook his head, "Nothing… it must be due to those floodlights. It's a bit hard to focus." he looked up at the sky widely opening his eyes and closing them again, soon wearing his helmet, "Call Heber once this over ends."
Hearing his orders on after another, senri smiled speechless, thinking, "Am I your lackey…?"
The last ball of the over delivered; Kenzo played a sweep shot towards the deep backward square leg side securing a four. The last over of the powerplay next, Mael took the balling over again while Senri exchanged the batting positions.
"56 runs with a loss of 1 wicket our run rate is 11.2." Alan summarized, staring at Kenzo.
"His highness is in trouble." Azazel guessed.
"Yeah, he is." Heber came back from the ground with the staff.
"Why, what's wrong?" Damian inquired.
"Flood lights, they are hurting his eyes." Heber informed.
Seles kept his finger on his chin, "But Kenzo doesn't have any eyesight issues…" he recalled.
"It might not be because of eyesight. He just can't get used to the floodlights. He was struggling last night as well." Helios realized.
"Sigh~ that's the trouble for playing at night." Haris complained.
"But you still have to get over it. The sun usually shines on the head, so it's less distracting thanks to the helmet but floodlights that are ahead; right in front of the batsman vision are conflicting to defeat. I can grasp that feeling." Aigou agreed.
Nidou, continuously sitting with his eyes shut pondered. "Anyways, I told his highness to check his stance and grip, stay relaxed and concentrate and focus majorly on the ball, just like you asked Coach Mir." Heber showed a thumbs up. Mir nodded.
"Sigh~ I just hope he gets over it." Isa tapped his finger on his arm concerned.
Only a single run taken within three deliveries, Kenzo tapped his bat on the batting crease, flinching his eyes. Mael tossing the ball up, delivered the 4th ball of the over.
An outswinger aimed, Kenzo pulled his bat in the nick of time evading the delivery as it went into the Keeper's hand. "Oh!!" the fielders went alongside the crowd, once again a chance missed.
"Oh... Peshawar isn't going easy and Karachi isn't giving up." the commentators commented."This time it was an edge delivery." Maaz realized.
"Come on, come on." Zhangli clapped.
Nile rubbing the ball, handed it to Mael once more. Mael running across, the 30 inched circle, stepped on the popping crease, delivering the second last ball of the over. Kenzo concentrating on the ball, stepped forward as it appeared swift, aiming straight for the wicket. Instantly realizing he kept his bat in front of his feet for a front foot defense however misjudged it collided against the pad falling away.
"OUT!! OUT!!" Mael raised his finger up as Kenzo stood straight troubled.
Umpire remaining unresponsive for a while, Zhangli and Ishaq patted Mael's back calling for a decision. The entire ground's attention turned towards the big screen and thrid umpire's decision.
"OH! That's a huge call! An Lbw one. Zhangli supports, Ishaq supports! The first chance was a miss, the second one was a miss…" Jones commented.
"A player request for an LbW... the on field umpire's decision remains 'Not Out' checking for the front foot first. A fair delivery. Ball in close contact to the bat, moving on to the ultraedage..." the third umpire reviewed.
The onfield umpire staring ahead for a while, kept his finger on his ear device soon nodding. The big screen showing impact on line and wickets hitting. The crowd instantly cheered. The umprie raised his index finger up next, declaring an out!
"And, he's given! This time it's not a miss! The end of the powerplay marks two for Zalmi's! Both of them from Mael!" Jones continued.
"WOHOO!!" the entire stadium went.
"Haha! Good job!" Humayun clapped his hands against Mael's as he ruffled Omar and Siraj's hairs.
Kenzo however exhausted, removed his helmet heading back. Keeping his hand on his eyes, he exhaled uncomfortably.
"He couldn't do it…" Isa whispered, narrowing his gaze troubled.
"Just like I said before they have miles more work to do." Rauf said, "No experience can be gained in a single night, no flaw can be conquered in a single match. They have to give their all for it."
The middleschoolers listened silent. Alan too exhaling tapped his fingers on the ground.
"Kenzo ShahJahan, dismissed at 23/18. Feng Mir Ozer enters the ground as the third batsman from Karachi's batting order. Karachi's total score now 57/2, what strategies are the kings now holding in their hands…" Wasim commented.
Kenzo arriving back to the pavilion was assisted by Azazel, Adam, Heber and Seraph. Feng wearing his helmet, dabbed Kenzo's back heading out. "Wish me luck, everyone, Vice-captain, Ryan." he uttered.
Xavier smiled, "All luck with you."
"Yeah… go beat them up." Ryan encouraged.
"In the end they are still too immature…" Suleiman closed his eyes, "Too young to face us."
Naeem blinked his eyes, "Is that so…?"
"Why do you hesitate?" Raza questioned him.
"No reason in particular, but he has already done his work hasn't he? The powerplay was all his stage to shine as the opening batsman." Naeem replied.
Powerplay ending after the last delivery of the 6th over, Feng and Senri exchanged places. "Time to rock?" Senri questioned.
Feng smiled, "As you wish. Just to make you sure, I can't handle too many spins. So better keep your guard up."
Senri nodded assuring, "No problem. Just keep your eyes on the ball rather than on Nile and leave the rest to me."
Feng momentarily pausing whispered, "Alright."
Overs now handed to spinners; Abaan took over the 7th over, with Senri taking over the batting crease.
Kenzo, seated inside the dressing room was aided by Seles, Pedro, Isa, Noah, Damian, Seraph and Heber.
"These eye drops will ease your irritation. Just don't rub your eyes now." Seles closed the bottle, keeping it aside.
Kenzo hissed, furrowing his brows and tapping his feet on the ground as tears trickled down his eyes like an open water tap.
"You shouldn't have rubbed them too much." Seraph sat beside him, wiping them with a tissue.
"Tch, don't touch me. Moreover, it wasn't my fault. All I could see was a big black hole wherever I looked, definetly not my fault." Kenzo pushed his hand away. "Darn it, an Lbw? The hell…" he cursed annoyed.
Isa exhaling crossed his arms, "Suit yourself little highness, but you are out in the end. Now the best way to overcome this weakness is to practice a lot."
Kenzo twitched his brow, "You see, I know you are here to make fun of me but doing it right now would only aggravate the situation more, so better go away."
Isa frowned over his disobedient remark.
"Yikes! He's angry!" Heber flinched. Seles patting Isa's shoulder shook his head gesturing him to stop.
Isa however, annoyed on the contrary left.
"Sigh…" Damian exhaled touching Kenzo's forehead, "Is your forehead aching?"
"No, just my eyes. They are burning." Kenzo rubbed his tears away.
"That's good. With this we have no signs of fever or eyesight issues. You are just sensitive to floodlights." Seles told, "But didn't you realize this symptom of yours ever before?"
Kenzo shook his head, "Never before. I have never played under floodlights. Even European open and the Inter-academy national matches were held in daytime."
"I understand. Just don't open your eyes for a while and lay down now." Seles advised.
"No way." Kenzo abruptly rejected standing up, "I am heading out."
"Hey, just look where you are going…" Damian guided him.
"Heavens gracious, this kid…" Noah shook his head in disbelief.
"An epitome of youth." Pedro remarked.
"Here it goes!! Once more! Senri Ibn Daud is on roar! First a six! Now a four!" Jones commented, "What a partnership! Just like they say; don't take Senri lightly against spins."
"Wow…" Adam gulped as Ryan blinked awed.
"I thought it was hard to play after powerplay, since chances of catch outs increase but… he makes it look so easy, I don't believe it." Ezekiel remarked.
"You're right, he is a carefree hitter. Once he starts, there's no end. Not until he makes a mistake that is or gets awfully tired." Aaron smiled. "But I feel bad for Abaan and Zaki too. I see myself in those two while facing Senri, unfortunate spinners…" he sympathized at the end.
"Does he give you a hard time too?" Cassiel asked curious.
"Don't ask." Aaron shuddered instead.
"Only looking at him, do you think he can make any mistakes?" Lou Wang asked, "His spin nullification and flash cricket are weapons in the field, especially at times like these."
"Nonetheless, nobody is invincible. Anybody can exploit their opponent's weakness. So, let him shine as long as he can." Isa said.
"Senior Isa you're here, how's Kenzo?" Poseidon inquired.
"Fine." Kenzo replied coming out. His eyes shut.
Isa still irritated sat beside Zachariah disappointed while Zach smiled, "Why the frown?"
"Don't ask me if you know." Isa replied, his mood worse.
Zachariah acknowledging gently ruffled his hairs.