22 - The Story of Love [Completed]

4. Hindrance

With the game underway, the two openers who had developed a stable running partnership of one hundred and twenty five when it suddenly fell into challenge after Daniel was bowled out. Disappointed with himself for getting out at such a crucial stage of the game, he walked back to the pavilion with a sad face. As he walked back, he was applauded by his team and coaching staff for scoring seventy-five off twenty-five balls and for helping his second opener batsman in developing a partnership. The score board was just updated to one hundred and thirty. As another batsman made his way to the crease, Daniel removed his gloves, pads and helmet and made his way out to the dugout again.

"Well done, champ! You played well." One of his teammates, Rhys had commented.

"Thanks mate. But it was a silly mistake on my part." Daniel responded dejected.

"That's alright. Cricket can never go perfect every time. It is in fact the ups and downs that make this game so much fun."

Daniel smiled at this.

"Can't disagree on that one."

While they chatted along and watched the game unfold from afar, a media manager came on the side and called his name.

"Mr Daniel, please could you join us for a small interview on the side for the audience watching the game at home."

"Sure. Where?"

"Just there on the side." The man pointed to where the camera was set and a girl with a mic was stood reading something on the paper in her hand. Daniel followed the media manager along and got to the place when she looked up.

"Thank you for your time, Mr Edwards. Are you happy to start?"

"Sure."

She nodded and waited for the commentators to pass over to her. As soon as she received her call, she had gone straight into it.

"Thanks Shawn. I have with me the super talented Daniel Edwards who has just played an incredible innings for his team. Congratulations on your another half-century. So talking about the crowd, which is so enthusiastic, how are you finding the atmosphere at Lords?"

He smiled at the introduction and the mention of Lords.

"Thank you, it's honestly amazing. I think for every cricketer, it is a dream to play in this ground and I am so happy to be playing here for the first time. The crowd is the real energy, when you know you have people cheering for the game, no matter which side, it automatically gives the player a confidence boost. Lovely to be here."

She asked a few more quick questions and he answered them. Throughout the time, both of them had a smile on their faces.

"Thank you for your time, Mr Edwards. Lovely to speak to you and good luck for the game."

"Cheers."

The conversation ended with a formal greeting and as it was done, he made his way back to the dugout and joined his team and she got immersed in reading another piece of script for an interview later with a Pakistani player. But those three minutes changed everything, for the both of them and they had no awareness of it.

The first innings ended with England scoring two hundred and four and the second innings would commence with a twenty-minute break when Pakistan would have to chase down two hundred and five. The media team and both of the teams went for their well deserving breaks but Hoorain was occupied again as she received a phone call from her father.