**Day 17 – National Pool League Semifinal 2**
**Venue: Iron Dome – Loud, Divided, Electrified**
This isn't just a match.
It's a war between **Sai Menon's calm mastery** and **Zayaan Sheikh's boiling ego**.
And only one team can face Titans in the Final.
---
### 🎲 Toss – Havoc Wins, Elects to Bat First
Zayaan walks in with cold eyes, flanked by Sai.
> Zayaan (to coin): "Heads."
> It's heads.
He turns to Sai, grins:
> "Let's burn this place down first."
---
### 🔥 Havoc's Batting Innings
**Opening:** Zayaan Sheikh & Lalit Negi
- **Over 1-4:**
Zayaan comes out like a storm — flicks, pulls, hooks.
Hits 3 fours in one over off Krunal Joshi.
Lalit gives him all the strike.
> Commentator: "Zayaan's not batting. He's making a statement."
- **Over 5-8:**
Rehan Malik brings spin. Zeeshan bowls tight lines.
Zayaan gets impatient… misfires… **CLEAN BOWLED.**
Score: 58/1
- **Over 9-14:**
Sai Menon enters. Steadies the ship. Rotates strike.
Shubham Dey provides boundaries, but falls to a slower one from Rakesh.
- **Final Overs:**
Sai anchors till 19th over — makes 37(29)
Aditya hits a late six.
**Havoc: 138/6 in 20 overs**
---
### 🛡️ Vanguard's Chase
**Openers:** Rehan Malik & Amit Rawat
- **Over 1-3:**
Tight start by Shubham Dey. Rehan tries a big one, edges — **CAUGHT!**
Early pressure. 13/1
- **Over 4-8:**
Krunal Joshi counters — clean straight drives.
Amit Rawat supports, but falls to Zayaan's pace — bowled at 147 kph.
> Zayaan roars. "This is my dome!"
- **Over 9-13:**
Sai keeps calm on the bench.
Rakesh Kalia walks in. Hits back-to-back fours.
- **Over 14-17:**
Zeeshan Waris neutralizes spin. Krunal accelerates.
Havoc starts panicking — fielders miscommunicate.
- **Final 2 Overs – 15 needed**
Zayaan bowls 19th — fast but wild. Two wides, one full toss for six.
**Last Over – 3 to Win**
Sai walks out to finish it. First ball — lap sweep for FOUR.
---
### ✅ Vanguard wins by 6 wickets
Havoc eliminated.
Zayaan drops to his knees.
---
### 💔 Zayaan's Breakdown
In the dressing room, he throws his gloves, punches the locker.
> Sai (gently): "You play like a god… but sometimes, even gods must listen."
Zayaan doesn't respond. Just stares at the floor.
His war… cost him the final.
---
### 🧠 Dravid's Office – That Night
> Dravid (to Dhoni):
> "The finals… Titans vs Vanguard… Discipline vs Depth.
> But that boy Zayaan? If he learns... he'll lead India someday."
---
### 🌙 Final Scene – Rooftop Reflections
Aryan, Omkar, Sai, and Rehan all stare at the same empty stadium.
Each with a different mind.
But tomorrow… only one legacy will rise.
---
🔥 **Next: Chapter 35 – The Final: Titans vs Vanguard – One Game for Glory**