Chapter 29: Havoc vs Vanguard – Clash of Chaos and Composure
**Day 11 – Match 2 of the National Pool League**
Morning sun glares over the Iron Dome.
Today, it's **Havoc** vs **Vanguard** — the most unpredictable matchup.
Havoc is led by **Sai Menon** and fueled by the volatile **Zayaan Sheikh**.
Vanguard, under **Rehan Malik**, is the calm storm.
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### 🎙️ Pre-Match Hype
Commentator:
> "This is not cricket, it's emotional chess.
> Zayaan's anger vs Rehan's quiet control."
Zayaan flexes during warmups, bowling thunderbolts. 150 kph.
Sai (to team):
> "No ego today. We play smart. Let chaos be theirs, not ours."
Rehan (to Vanguard):
> "Trust your roles. Let's make them crack."
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### 🏏 Toss
Rehan wins toss. Chooses to bowl.
Zayaan smirks:
> "Good. Let's set a fire they can't put out."
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### 💥 Havoc Batting
**Opening Pair**: Zayaan & Sai
1st Over – Krunal Joshi bowls tight lines.
Zayaan swings big – edges, FOUR. Next ball, a pull shot – SIX!
Sai slows down the tempo with calculated singles.
**5th Over** – Aditya Parmar tries to slog, gets bowled.
**7th Over – Sai accelerates**
Reverse sweep. Straight drive. Cuts. 3 boundaries in one over.
**Final Over** – Zayaan hits a monstrous SIX over square leg.
**Havoc Total: 84/3 in 10 overs**
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### 🧠 Vanguard Chase
Rehan & Zeeshan open. Methodical.
Zayaan sledges:
> "Why are you so slow? Trying to bore us to death?"
Rehan smiles:
> "Let's see who forgets their plan first."
**3rd Over – Zeeshan out LBW to Sai**
**5th Over – Rehan takes charge**
Drives through covers. Paddles past fine leg. Precision over power.
**7th Over – Pressure Mounts**
Havoc's fielders are tense. Misfields creep in.
**Final 2 Overs – 20 needed**
Rehan plays an audacious scoop. SIX!
Next ball – 2 runs. Then a single.
Last Over: 7 runs needed
Krunal swings – edge, 2 runs.
Next ball – dot.
**4 balls, 5 runs**
Rehan lofts it over mid-on – FOUR.
**1 to win – 2 balls left**
Single taken.
**Vanguard wins by 3 wickets.**
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### 📊 Post-Match Scene
Rehan raises his bat briefly. Calm. Measured.
Zayaan hurls a glove into the bench, furious.
Sai shakes hands with Rehan.
Commentator:
> "Today, chaos burned itself. Composure prevailed."
**Player of the Match**: Rehan Malik – 47*(34)
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### 🕶️ Coach Observation Room
Dhoni watches quietly.
> "Rehan… he's not loud. But he wins time."
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### 🌙 Final Moment
Zayaan trains alone under moonlight, again.
> "I don't lose. I wait."
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🔥 **Next: Chapter 30 – Aryan vs Zayaan: The Past Collides**