Chapter 56: Lone Wolf
[Day 3 - Morning Session]
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium was a cauldron. The Sunday crowd had swelled, filling the I, J, and K stands, a sea of yellow supporting the home team, Tamil Nadu. They had come to witness a burial. Mumbai, the giants of domestic cricket, were on their knees.
Score: 112/4
Trail by: 433 runs
Aryan stood at the non-striker's end, watching Dhawal Kulkarni take guard. The heat was already rising, the humidity clinging to their skin like a second shirt.
"Watch the reverse," Aryan whispered as he walked past Kulkarni. "Balaji is hiding the shiny side."
L. Balaji, the hero of the 2004 Pakistan tour, stood at the top of his mark. He was charging in with a rhythmic, energetic action.
First ball of the morning.
It started outside off, tailing in viciously. Kulkarni, a brave lower-order batter but not a technician, thrust his pad forward.
Thud.
"HOWZAT!"
The appeal was deafening. The umpire's finger went up instantly.
Mumbai: 112/5.
