**Day 16 – National Pool League Semifinal 1**
**Venue: Iron Dome – Packed, Floodlit, Roaring**
Commentators across languages are tuned in.
Fans are split — between Aryan's calm dominance and Yuvraj's explosive charisma.
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### 🔥 Toss – Titans Win, Elect to Bat First
Aryan, quiet and focused, signals without a word.
Yuvraj smirks.
> Yuvraj (to his team): "Good. Let's chase. Let's hunt."
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### 🏏 Titans Batting Innings
**Opening Pair:** Aryan Raj & Iqbal Nawaz
- **Over 1-5:**
Aryan plays slow — pure defense. Iqbal takes risks and hits two boundaries.
Crowd starts murmuring: "Why so slow?"
- **Over 6-10:**
Aryan shifts gears. Step-out cover drive to Arman Ahuja — classic.
Omkar enters at No. 3 and begins rotating strike brilliantly.
> Commentator: "Aryan's doing to pressure what monks do to anger — nothing. He dissolves it."
- **Final 5 Overs:**
Rishi Luthra smacks 22 off 10 balls.
Titans post **142/4** in 20 overs — a tricky total on this two-paced pitch.
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### 🔥 Phoenix Chase
**Opening Pair:** Rajveer Goyal & Dev Mehta
- **Over 1-4:**
Omkar bowls a tight first over. Rajveer plays smartly, keeping scoreboard ticking.
- **Over 5:**
**Breakthrough** – Omkar traps Dev LBW with a low-arm slider.
- **Over 6-10:**
Yuvraj walks in.
First ball: SIX. Second ball: dot. Third ball: four.
He's looking dangerous.
- **Over 11:**
Rishi bowls short — Yuvraj pulls for another six. The stadium erupts.
- **Over 13:**
Aryan bowls off-spin for the first time in the tournament.
First ball — wide. Second ball — dot.
Third ball — Yuvraj charges… **STUMPED.**
A moment of silence across the Iron Dome.
> Omkar (to Aryan): "You just silenced the thunder."
- **Final 3 Overs:**
Phoenix needs 27 off 18.
Omkar's over goes for just 4 runs.
- **Last Over – 14 Needed**
Tarun to bowl.
Rajveer hits a four. Then two runs.
Final ball: Phoenix needs 3 to win.
Rajveer swings hard… inside edge… Iqbal dives…
**RUN OUT!**
Titans win by **1 run.**
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### 😱 Crowd Reaction – Madness
Fans cry. Some scream.
Yuvraj punches his pads in frustration, face hidden under his cap.
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### 🧠 Post-Match
**Dhoni (to press):**
> "There are many leaders. But Aryan and Omkar? They lead even in silence."
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### 📊 Player of the Match: Aryan Raj
- 42(34), 1 wicket, 2 catches
- "He didn't just play cricket. He rewrote pressure."
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### 🌙 Final Scene – Locker Room
Aryan sits on the bench, soaked in sweat.
Yuvraj walks in, looks at him, extends a fist.
> Yuvraj: "You won today. But I'll be back."
> Aryan: "I hope so. The game needs you."
They bump fists. No hate. Only rivalry.
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🔥 **Next: Chapter 34 – Semifinal 2: Vanguard vs Havoc – The Price of Ego**