"Oh dear…" Isa exhaled.
"Where did Omar come from in the first place? Was he standing behind before?" Adam asked irritated.
"Nope, Nile placed him on long off in his over. Initially, it was to take Feng's wicket but Xavier thwarted his plan. Because, if Xavier hadn't run, it would've been Feng's loss." Aaron told, "Seriously, why is he so fixated over him?"
The middleschoolers in search of the answer to his question turned to Gabriel who ignored them on the spot.
"Who knows?" Seraph exhaled, smiling at Alan.
"Hard Luck! That's what you call it. A communication gap cost it all. Xavier Ibn Zain departs at 30/16. A fabulous round of sixes demonstrated by him. A turning point for Karachi kings and Peshawar's fourth wicket! The total accumulated now stands is 136/4…" Jones added.
Xavier smiling at Feng patted his shoulder.
"I'm sorry… I-I didn't know, Vice-captain. I-…" Feng apologized.
"It's alright. Don't worry about it." Xavier assured, "We all-rounders get out all the time. The one who shouldn't are you batsman. So roll, Feng. For this match, it's still too early for you come back to the pavilion." he went back.
Feng stared at the ground frustrated.
"Anyways, I hope you all got my point. So get ready, speed star." Ren winked heading out.
Back at the pavillion the middleschoolers looked at each other, speechless and somewhat annoyed.
"Haha!!" Haruf laughed amused.
"I can't believe it he said that so straightforwardly." Heber twitched his brow while Seraph and Poseidon chuckled awkwardly.
"Ren…" Rauf called before he left.
"Hm?" Ren glanced behind, his poised grin evident.
"Be serious." Rauf warned.
"Haha! Okay~ Okay~ But do take my words into consideration, boss. After all, you know both my strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else." he headed towards the pitch, slightly tapping Xavier's helmet who returned.
"The consideration he asking for, is getting ready only." Alan interpreted to Seraph who nodded wearing his knee pads.
Xavier returning back removed his helmet. Sweat dripping his wet locks. Ryan handed him a water bottle, "Good work, Vice-captain."
Xavier smiled, "Thank you."
Further two overs, a lot more struggling for Karachi Kings. Alan narrowed his gaze concerned.
"This is not going anywhere…" Noah exhaled.
"They both are on defensive, just at the point where we have to score runs." Cassiel sighed.
"Deliveries in Nile's over are mostly dots and Ren struck two sixes in the last over to draw the pressure but extra runs… we can't get a hold of them at all." Evan summarized.
Nidou gazing at the pitch with his dull, unamused gaze yawned, "Nothing can be done."
The middleschoolers turned to him slightly offended. "Are you really just giving up on us?" Adam asked upset.
Nidou glanced solemn, "Nothing can be done... until and unless the ones on the pitch do something theirselves." he completed his prior sentence.
"Ultimately, it all depends on the two of them." Senri whispered.
The second last over handed to Mael, Ren took the batting crease. "Oh dear, I might be called the Emperor of climaxes but it is obviously the end of the innings right now, if people could understand! Fast ballers are not my cup of tea so if get bowled out it won't be my fault I gave my best. Moreover, it's him again? How cumbersomely I played against him in the last over and struck those sixes only I know that." he thought with a gulp.
Delivering the first ball of the second last over, the crowd cheered as Mael stepped on the popping crease and left the ball.
"A leg cutter…" Ren read the trajectory of the ball as it struck the pitch instantly hitting it straight towards the long on for a four. Mael headed back for the next delivery. Karachi's overall runs now surpassing 150 and now 155 at the loss of 4 wickets.
Ren aimed the 2nd delivery amid mid-off and cover securing further two runs. Pressure high and the night packed, Alan tapped his fingers on his knee, his brows furrowed.
"Don't worry." Seraph assured.
"Does it look like I am?" Alan asked with a smile instead.
"Not at all." Cassiel joined the two, stretching his arms, "Augh~ I am tired of sitting." he complained.
Alan glanced at Will who ruffled his ear with his soft fur.
"Since you believe us so much it's hard not to meet your expectations." Cassiel added, "No matter what the target stands now. We'd be sure to win this."
The highschoolers looked at each other silent. "Tch, why are you even stating the obvious." Kenzo uttered confident.
The last over commencing after a single run taken, Feng stood on the batting crease again. "Nile hun…" he whispered to himself with a light gulp, "First Senior Senri and then brother Xavier. Now the last over where we have to give everything we've got yet the one on the cease is me who can't even do anything…" "No… don't give up. Don't give up to the very end Feng!" Pushing his negative thoughts away he exhaled.
Tapping the bat on the crease Feng got ready for the first delivery of the last over. Nile twirling the ball in his finger smirked tracing the fielding positions.
The crowd cheering, "KARACHI! PESHAWAR! KARACHI! PESHAWAR!"
Nile ran through the 30 inch circle, stepping on the popping cease he whispered, "Arachnid Trap, Form two!" The ball straight was aimed at Feng's feet who immediately read it, "An inswinger… the ball is reverse swinging the other way now…" The ball aimed from leg side to off side, Feng played a leg glance immediately taking a run.
Running past Nile at the non-striker's end a sudden thump went in his chest. Feng abruptly looked at him. Sweat dripping his forehead, his eyes fidgeted left and right, "This sensation… it's growing. As if I am trapped in a spider web." his surroundings imprisoning him in a cobweb.
Zhangli tossing the ball back to Nile called, "Come on everyone stay attentive!" Ren on the batting crease, Nile once more delivered an inswinger. However, up to his surprise rather than hitting his bat it struck his pads as Nile went, "OUT! OUT!!"
"What?!" Orion slammed his hand on the armrest.
The umpire remaining unmoved, Nile pushed his hairs back confused as Zhangli, Mael and Ishaq joined him.
"So… what is it? Feng." Ren asked him.
Feng shook his head, his gaze unsure. Zhangli taking the review displayed a 'T' gesture.
"Peshawar taking the review, it's all up to the third umpire now…" Maaz commented, "Kenzo's review was also in their favor will it be the same this time too? Or will Karachi get past this…"
The big screen visible, the crowd, Feng and Ren along with Nile stared at the review.
"Original umpire decision 'Not Out'. Checking for a fair delivery, it's pitched in line. Moving on, the ball is in close proximity to the bat. Checking with the ultra-edge…" the third umpire reviewed.
Feng gulped.
"There's no contact between the bat and the ball, flat line on the ultra-edge…" the third umpire continued.
The big screen showing a clear hit of the ball on the mid and off stump. "Wohoo~!!" the ground arose in joy.
"Impact on line, pitching on line, hitting the wickets, the original decision is 'OUT'. Simon change the review to 'Out', please." the third umpire told the umpire on field. The umpire raising his index finger up, it was for some, a nasty call but for others a call of delight.
"Haha!" Nile laughed as Ishaq embraced him proud.
"Here it is! Peshawar's review goes positive again, the 5th wicket's fall! Ren Maaz departs 19/5…" Jones commented.
"Haha!" Raza clapped his hands against Uzair's. "That brat's crazy! He isn't even leaving their highschoolers!" he praised.
Hafiz however, staring at Feng whispered, "For how long can he stay now…?"
"Feng Mir Ozer. He is that boy, right?" Suleiman guessed.
"Vice-captain Zhangli told me yesterday but looking at him now. It's a torture to stay on the pitch." Hafiz shuddered.
Suleiman narrowed his gaze.
Seraph immediately arriving at the pitch, Ren exhaled taking a seat.
The middleschoolers did not even try to spare a glance at him... was the feeling they faced.
"You sure were true to your words." Isa teased him.
Ren clicked his tongue, "I told you before. You were ones who did not believe me."
"What is it? Did ground leave beneath your feet?" Nile asked.
Feng clutching his bat's grip tight, gritted.
"Haha, scary~" Nile teased him.
Seraph catching up patted Feng shoulder calling, "Feng…"
Feng glancing aside turned to him, "Listen to me Seraph…"
"Hm?" Seraph blinked.
"I want you take a run on the next delivery no matter what. Can you please do me this favor?" Feng pleaded.
"Of course, anything you want right now. Rather than striking huge blows. I don't have anything in mind." Seraph replied tapping his fist.
Feng nodded. "I'll do that for you…" he mumbled.
The next delivery of the over, the crowd cheered, "ANOTHER WICKET! ANOTHER WICKET!" Seraph tapped his bat on crease attentive.
"Tch! annoying!" Orion muttered vexed.
"Alan glancing at him smiled, "It's Peshawar after all…"
"But that doesn't mean they start shouting wicket and wicket!" Orion retorted mad.
"And, that doesn't mean they stop supporting their team as well?" Elias asked.
Orion, unable to retort remained silent.
Nile stepping on the popping crease left the ball. "A short delivery…" Seraph read, "Good!" He immediately swung the bat up and high towards the off side taking a run.
"Catch it, Humayun!" Zhangli called.
"Oh no…" Adam and Heber gulped while Ryan frowned.
"Once more?! Is that a catch? Will Nile proceed for a Hat-trick ball!" the commentators gasped.
Amid completing the run, Seraph whispered with a smirk, "As if. Blind spot: Instantaneous Movement."
Humayun under the ball, raised his hands up to clasp it however, before it could drop into his hands it vanished appearing on the other side promptly falling on the ground instead.
The entire crowd went silent.
"A drop! It was a massive drop!" the commentators exclaimed.
Nile speechless, crouched to his knees grabbing the back of his neck.