After the first innings ended, both teams walked back into their dressing rooms.
In the Ashwandeep dressing room, the players were talking about how they would win this match with joyous smiles on their faces. In the Gulbarga National dressing room however, there was nothing but worry and infighting.
Sohan slammed the door, its hinges nearly coming off. Everyone stared at him once, before going back to their original state of silence.
"All of you, listen up." Told Sohan.
None of his teammates looked up. None of them wanted to. Only Akash got up to speak.
"They haven't done anything wrong." Said Akash. "Why are you taking it out on them?"
"Nothing wrong?" Reprimanded Sohan. "Because you all listened to Akash instead of me, we are now the team that gave the highest ever target produced, that too to a washed Ashwandeep."
"But none of that matters now." Continued Sohan. "Rectify your mistakes in the second innings. I want you to show grit in taking back every run Ashwandeep made. Akash, you will open."
"Enough with the tactical nonsense, Sohan." Said Akash, visibly annoyed. "We are in this situation due to you. It is time the coach made me captain instead."
The coach then walked into the room.
"Sohan is the Gulbarga captain, end of story." Ordered the coach. "You all will follow his tactics, not Akash. End of story."
Akash gritted his teeth in anger, but stayed silent.
"Not bad, Sohan." Thought the coach. "The field is now more flat, so this is the best course of action. However, I really wish you had better man management."
Meanwhile at the Ashwandeep dressing room, Ali and Shrivastav were discussing tactics.
"I have heard you've been practicing your spin." Said Shrivastav. "Ill give you a few overs to bowl in the middle overs. After all, there is no way they will chase this."
"I think there's no need." Countered Ali. "We shouldn't be so complacent that you let an untested bowler bowl in a cup match."
"You really need to learn to ask more for yourself." Chided Shrivastav. "But if you say you don't want to, then it's fine."
They continued discussing tactics, and the fifteen minutes went by, as fast as can be.
"And both teams have returned for the second innings!" The commentator's voice boomed across the school ground. "Can our mighty Gulbarga National chase this mammoth total?"
The duo of Akash and Mohan came out to bat.
Ali was surprised and thought to himself, "Isn't Akash a lower order finisher? Why is he at the non striker's end?"
"Don't worry about Akash." Said Manish. "They put him there as the pitch has become more batting friendly. It's quite a risky gamble, even for Sohan."
Shrivastav threw the ball to Anirudh, as calm as can be, and told, "Take wickets."
"Business as usual, then." Said Anirudh, as he began to bowl his first over.
The first 4 overs were a mix of Anirudh and Nirmal, both not leaking many runs to the opposition.
[ Akash 17* (15) | Mohan 7* (9) | 24/0 ]
The 5th over was where Ashwandeep began cementing their win. Chirag would be bowling the 5th over. He slung his arms lazily and then began his run up to Mohan.
For the first 3 balls, Mohan moved his bat with timing and rhythm, hitting 2 fours and a double.
[Akash 17* (15) | Mohan 17* (12) | 34/0 ]
"He seems to have fallen for it." Thought Chirag.
Chirag was a seamer. He was dependent on well crafted slow balls to dismiss the opposition. He normally didn't bowl in the powerplay, but this time he asked for it so that he could improve his skills.
Chirag ran forward, this time with a slight change in pace prepared. Mohan swung his bat once and the ball flew high in the air, before landing right back in Chirag's hands.
[ Akash 17* (15) | Skand 0* (0) | 34/1 ]
Mohan was out. Skand then came onto the crease, deciding to stabilise the innings. However, when Chirag bowled the first ball against him, Skand tried to defend it, but it turned away from him and edged his bat, before Zayed dived and caught it. That was a second wicket in Chirag's over.
[ Akash 17* (15) | Sohan 0* (0) | 34/2 ]
Chirag was close to a hat trick. However Gulbarga's captain and their best batter, Sohan stood in his way.
"I'll defend the last ball of this over." Thought Sohan.
Chirag ran up again, this time changing the length of the ball. Sohan pulled his bat backwards preparing to hit the ball over long on. However, at the last moment he slowed the swing of his bat, leading to the ball slowly rolling across the pitch.
Sohan immediately ran to the other end of the pitch. The two of them then ran across the pitch taking 2 runs.
Chirag finished his over, and then threw the ball back to Shrivastav.
After that, Nirmal bowled his 3rd over. The duo of Sohan and Akash continued bickering, not being able to work together properly.
This continued until the 9th over. Suraj was to bowl his 2nd over.
"Calm down." Thought Suraj. "This time, don't be hasty!"
Suraj was nervous as he had been hit for a six twice by Akash in his first over.
[ Akash 36* (27) | Sohan 20* (12) | 73/2 ]
Ali saw this and walked over to him. The noises of Sohan and Akash were echoing across the pitch
"Look at them bickering." Said Ali. "Use that to your advantage."
Suraj thought to himself, before getting an idea. He then began his run up, after asking for a few field changes.
The ball spun slightly away from Sohan. So he was forced to defend it, sending it rolling towards Anirudh in mid off.
Sohan immediately ran. Akash however, initally did not.
"Run!" Screamed Sohan. "Run! You idiot!"
Akash got out of his trance and began running. Anirudh saw this and immediately threw the ball towards the stumps. Suraj tried to grab the ball but it passed through his hands.
Luckily for Ashwandeep, Manish was right behind him. He calmly caught the ball before Sohan could even think of getting another run.
Gasps were heard throughout the field, as Sohan and Akash both felt a sigh of relief.
TO BE CONTINUED
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