Chapter 51: Team No. 4 vs Team No. 7 - Part - 2 : The Unleashed Demon

Aryan walked off the pitch, removing his helmet and raising his bat to the roaring applause of his teammates. Behind him, Kabir raised his own bat, a quiet, proud smile on his face as he looked toward the stands, knowing he had finally kept the promise he made to his father.

High up in the stadium pavilion, seated behind a glass window, the Head Coach was meticulously observing the field. He held a crisp white sheet of paper on a clipboard, noting down Aryan and Kabir’s flawless footwork and aggressive stroke play. His pen paused as he looked down at the Strikers’ pavilion, his cold, calculating eyes locking onto a specific fast bowler.

A target of 327 is a mountain, the Head Coach thought to himself, tapping his pen against the clipboard. Now, Rohan Roy... let us see exactly what you can do on a state-level pitch.

15 Minutes Later

The short innings break concluded, and the umpires walked back out onto the manicured green field.

Team 7 jogged out of the pavilion, radiating confidence after their monumental batting performance. Before they dispersed to their fielding positions, Aryan gathered them into a tight circle near the pitch.

"Listen up, boys," Aryan said, his voice sharp and commanding, looking at every single player. "We have put a massive score on the board. 326 runs is an incredible total. But that does not mean we get complacent. We cannot slack off in our bowling and fielding. Team 4 is going to come out swinging hard to chase this down."

He turned his gaze to his bowlers. "We are playing with three fast bowlers and three spinners. I want aggressive, attacking lines."

Aryan finally looked at Rohan. "Rohan, you are our premier strike bowler. That means the heaviest responsibility falls on your shoulders. But I am not going to give you the new ball immediately. I want you to start from the fifth over. Let them get comfortable, let them think they are dominating, and then... you break them."

Rohan nodded firmly, cracking his knuckles. He didn’t have his AI System, but the raw, unadulterated power in his muscles was practically vibrating. "Understood, Captain."

Team 4’s opening batsmen marched out to the crease, looking determined despite the massive scoreboard pressure. Aryan tossed the new, hard leather ball to his second pace bowler to open the attack.

"Play!" the umpire called out.

The first over began, and Team 4 immediately showed their aggressive intent. They had no choice but to attack from ball one.

The fast bowler sprinted in and pitched the first ball up.

• Ball 1: Defended firmly back to the bowler. (0 runs)

• Ball 2: Pitched short. The batsman violently pulled it over mid-wicket for a massive six. (6 runs)

• Ball 3: Driven elegantly through the covers for a quick double. (2 runs)

• Ball 4: Tapped to point for a single. (1 run)

• Ball 5: Smashed straight down the ground past the bowler for a cracking boundary. (4 runs)

• Ball 6: A sharp yorker dug out safely. (0 runs)

End of 1st Over: 13/0.

The onslaught continued. Team 4’s openers took full advantage of the powerplay restrictions, exploiting the gaps in the field and capitalizing on every loose delivery. The Team 7 bowlers, intimidated by the aggressive hitting, started losing their lines.

By the end of the fourth over, the scoreboard flashed a dangerous warning: 38/0.

As the fielders changed positions for the 5th over, Aryan walked up to Rohan and tossed him the shiny red cherry.

"They are just looking to attack every single delivery," Aryan told Rohan, pointing subtly at the aggressive batsman taking strike. "They are getting greedy. This is our perfect opportunity for a wicket. Show them your pace."

Rohan caught the ball, his fingers wrapping instinctively around the prominent seam. He walked back to his run-up mark, closing his eyes for a brief second.

No System, Rohan reminded himself. Noholographic trajectory line. Just me, the ball, and the stumps.

The 5th Over

Rohan opened his eyes. They were cold, focused, and completely devoid of nervousness. He began his sprint. His strides were long, powerful, and rhythmic. He leaped at the crease, his body bending like a taut bow, and unleashed the ball.

Ball 1: The leather missile left his hand at 132 km/h. It pitched perfectly on a good length, right on the menacing 4th and 5th stump line. The batsman, expecting a standard medium-pace delivery, stepped forward to drive. But the ball zipped off the pitch with terrifying speed, beating the outside edge of his bat by a millimeter and thudding loudly into Kabir’s gloves.

The batsman completely froze, his eyes wide with absolute shock. He looked at the pitch, then at Rohan, unable to comprehend the sudden jump in speed.

"Great ball, Rohan!" Kabir cheered from behind the stumps, punching his gloves together.

Ball 2: Rohan jogged back, his confidence surging. He charged in again, increasing his effort. The ball clocked in at 137 km/h, pitched slightly further up. Still reeling from the first ball, the batsman forcefully lunged into a heavy cover drive. He swung his bat through the air, but the ball was already past him before his bat even came down. A complete miss.

Ball 3: Terrified of the raw pace, the batsman abandoned his aggressive stance. He just wanted to survive. Rohan fired a 138 km/h delivery aimed at the pads. The batsman hurriedly flicked it toward square leg, managing to scramble for 2 runs.

Ball 4: Rohan adjusted his line, aiming straight for the off-stump at 139 km/h. The batsman was completely pinned to his crease, awkwardly jabbing his bat down just in time to block it. 0 runs.

Ball 5: Time to set the trap, Rohan thought, a tactical smirk crossing his face. He ran in with the exact same aggressive, fiery action, but just at the point of release, he slightly rolled his fingers over the seam.

The ball floated down the pitch at a deceptive 133 km/h. The batsman, expecting another blistering 139 km/h thunderbolt, saw the slightly slower ball and his eyes lit up with greed. He violently threw his bat at it, trying to launch it over long-on for a six.

Because of the deceptive pace, his timing was completely destroyed. The ball caught the top edge of the bat, shooting miles high into the Delhi sky.

Kabir threw his helmet off, tracking the ball perfectly. He settled underneath it and pouched it safely in his gloves.

"HOWZAT?!" Rohan and Kabir roared in unison.

The umpire raised his finger without hesitation. The opening partnership was broken.

Ball 6: A new, visibly nervous batsman walked to the crease. Rohan welcomed him with a brutal, unplayable 137 km/h delivery that practically cut him in half. The batsman barely survived. 0 runs.

Match Conclusion

That single over completely shifted the momentum of the game. Rohan had broken their spirit.

Without the System holding his hand, Rohan discovered a new, organic rhythm. He didn’t just rely on speed; he used his raw intelligence. He bowled brutal bouncers, toe-crushing yorkers, and deceptive slower balls. Every time a new batsman tried to establish themselves, Aryan brought Rohan back into the attack to shatter their stumps.

The immense scoreboard pressure of chasing 327, combined with Rohan’s relentless pace, completely suffocated Team 4. They fought desperately, dragging the match all the way to the final ball, but they simply couldn’t keep up with the required run rate.

End of Match.

Team 4 Score: 273/9 (50 Overs).

As the players shook hands on the field, the digital scoreboard flashed the standout bowling figures of the day.

Rohan Roy: 10 Overs | 24 Runs | 4 Wickets.

An unbelievable economy rate of 2.4 runs per over on a flat batting track.

Team 7 had won the match effortlessly by 53 runs. Strikers captain and the Pace Demon had officially announced their arrival at the state camp, and the entire stadium had taken notice.