Ali looked over at Sahwit. Why did he suddenly leave the tent? Was it because his son was playing. No. He never truly cared about his family, even in the original timeline. Ali then looked at Siddarth. "Scan Siddarth."
[STATS]
Player Name: Siddarth Reddy
Position: Lower order stabilizing batsman
Team: Red House
Batting: 41 + 15
Bowling: 43 + 15
Fielding: 61 + 15
Physical: 54 + 15
Mental: 84 + 15
Overall: 57 + 15 (Low State Level)
Special Status: asset.temp.evo.1.match
Potential: 85 (Top National)
Siddarth's potential was 85. Even in the genetic lottery, he was lucky. Ali began constructing a new plan around the buffed Siddarth. He decided to first try to remove Dalal and the rest of the batsmen.
After the end of Suraj's over, the field was quiet. Anirudh would bowl the 13th over. Against Siddarth. And on the non striker's end was Dalal. His friend. Dalal immediately taunted him. "The nursery is that way. Go back home to your father."
These were direct insults. Insults that stung deep.
Ball 1, Anirudh sauntered forward, throwing an outswinger that nearly grazed the pads of Siddarth. Siddarth immediately pushed his bat up, before sending the ball flying away for a six.
[Siddarth 6* (1) | Dalal 3* (2) | 112/3 ]
Ball 2, This time Anirudh threw a slower ball, one which was straight and low. Siddarth however saw this too, and sweeped it away for a four. What? First Ali earlier, now this phony Siddarth? What is going on?! Anirudh was completely baffled by how Siddarth had suddenly become so good at batting.
[Siddarth 10* (2) | Dalal 3* (2) | 116/3 ]
Ball 3, Anirudh tried a bouncer this time, Siddarth glanced at it once before angling his bat once, sending the ball for another six.
[Siddarth 16* (3) | Dalal 3* (2) | 122/3 ]
Manish was in a state of despair. His best bowler was being hammered somehow by a guy who was only good at fielding. The same guy who got dismissed by a fifth grader. He had no ideas left. What can I do now? Is there any way I can fix this?
Ali came to him. "Out of ideas are we? Why not use our emotions instead?" He said. "Kid, you can't just use the power of friendship to get the wicket of some guy who is playing like he belongs in the IPL." Manish chided Ali.
But this gave him some time for one last idea. He changed Rishit's position a bit on the side.
Ball 4, Though Siddarth was having a mental of 99, he was still having his arrogance and swagger. He saw Rishit's change in position. I'm going to smash the ball right between his legs. Anirudh threw a straight ball which was driven between Rishit's legs. However, Rishit wouldn't take something like this lightly. He cupped his hands and stopped the ball. "Run, you idiot run!" Screamed Siddarth. They took a single. Dalal was on strike. Manish sighed. Finally, a breather.
[Siddarth 17* (3) | Dalal 3* (2) | 123/3 ]
Ball 5, Anirudh was tired of being hit for every ball, and decided that he would use his trump card, a seam ball. The ball went towards Dalal's legs, he hit it upwards, but it went too high. Too high. Rishit calmly caught the ball and took Dalal's wicket. But this was merely a consolation in the face of Siddarth's and his sudden form. "And Anirudh removes the dangerous Dalal! But they will need more than that to stop the rampage of the red house." Ashwin commentated.
Dalal was devastated. Anirudh took me out of the game! This has got to be the stupidest thing ever! He thought to himself.
"You fool! I had told you to defend and stay quiet! Not try to blast every ball upwards!" Screamed Siddarth.
"We are the red house, the dominant house! Why should I defend like a fool when I can crush these ants under my feet!" Argued Dalal.
"There's something called strategy you brainless twit!" Siddarth fought back.
Dalal went silent, and walked away. Next was Suman. He was in a fearful state.
"Defend every ball you face like your life is on the line, because it is!" Siddarth commanded Suman.
"Uhh… got it sir!" Suman trembled.
Ball 6, Suman was nervous, after already being dismissed by Siddarth and not being able to prove himself. He felt like thousands of eyes were on him and was trembling slightly. It was a complete pressure situation. He got ready, already getting the command from Siddarth to take 2 runs. Anirudh threw the last ball of his over. Suman couldn't even move. He didn't even want to play for this team anymore. The ball ran into the wicket. "Anirudh takes his second wicket! There's the collapse we have been waiting for! Siddarth should realize, one man isn't enough to win matches! There is something called teamwork, if he doesn't know." Ashwin was tired of unbiasedly commentating, when the officials were in the Red House's pocket.
[Siddarth 17* (3) | Chirag 0* (0) | 123/5 ]
Ali's new plan was perfect. He had planned on using Siddarth's ego and inability to work with others to his advantage. And it was working. Siddarth's wicket wasn't falling. But his teammates wickets were falling like dominoes. In the end, the Red House made a target of 177, only due to Siddarth being in a frenzy. The rest of the Red House players knew if Siddarth was replaced with someone who could work well with them, their target would have been far higher.
Siddarth screamed at the rest of his teammates, but all of them had completely checked out mentally after seeing how idiotically he had ruined their play.
After this Manish and Samuel calmly stitched a partnership, and continued on until the 19th over, when Samuel was bowled by Chirag.
Ali strapped his pads on, and walked over to the pitch. I will finish this. This will be Manish's show, not Siddarth's! With this conviction in his mind, Ali walked towards the pitch.
Siddarth jeered at Ali, being the only red house member interested in winning the match. The rest of the red house were playing the match for the sake of playing it.
It was the third ball of the 19th over. The Green House needed 16 runs off 4 balls. Ali on strike. Chirag simply bowling the ball. Chirag threw a slow seam ball. Ali used the new skill he unlocked, sweeping the ball perfectly into the boundary line. Four.
12 off 3.
Ali smiled. This time, the truth would win. Chirag ran up again. A faster swinging ball. Ali drove it away for a four. Siddarth was pulling his hair. He showed a "kill" sign to the umpire. The umpire understood.
8 off 2.
This time it was a fast and straight ball. Ali sent it flying, but it landed in no man's land, Suhail dropped the catch and Ali and Manish ran frantically, collecting two runs. Siddarth screamed again, but there was no one to listen to him. He was alone, alone in a fog of his own making.
Ali had to hit a six. And then, it happened.
A moment that would forever be debated by every student of Ashwandeep for the next two years.
"I'm tired, just send the ball up, will you?" Said Chirag before bowling the last ball. It was a slow ball, right in the slot, which Ali easily smashed upwards. But something was wrong. Very wrong. The ball flew upwards, coming towards the hands of Hari. A catch. Hari had caught it. But Hari had made a big mistake. He had stepped on the boundary line, the edge of his shoe was touching it. The people in the tent near that area had seen it. The umpire gave the wicket. But the Green House players started protesting. Imran was the first to run forward. Then Vasudev. And then the rest of the team.
"I saw the kid touch the line while catching the ball!"
"It's a six, not a wicket!"
"Siddarth, accept your loss!"
Manish and Ali too protested. The umpire looked at Sahwit in his tent. Then said, "It's a safe catch, so it is a wicket."
The screams and rage of the audience were heard, but the umpire didn't care. He still gave the wicket.
And so, the Red House won the Ashwandeep Four Houses Tournament.
TO BE CONTINUED
Ps: if you like what you are reading so far, why not add the book into your collection?