Playing Up by David Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

sock in it, Steve.’
    Steve glared at his young brother. ‘I’m the captain and your job is just to defend,’ he said.
    They had a small chance of winning this game, if they didn’t kill each other first.
    The first ball Davey faced was a swinging yorker. He managed to jam his bat down on it and it squirted off to the leg side for one. Steve drove the next ball to the boundary for a four.
    They pressed on. Little by little the target was reduced. Davey began to relax a little and started to time his shots better.
    We can do this , Davey realised. We could actually win!
    Although Zane peppered Davey with short and fast deliveries, he had made thirteen runs. An unlucky number for some, but not me , thought Davey.
    Josh came on to bowl and over-pitched his first delivery. With a rush of confidence,Davey instinctively knew what to do. He stepped down the wicket and drove the ball long and high over the bowler’s head for four. The crowd loved it!
    Josh glared at Davey.
    â€˜So much for getting hurt,’ Davey said smugly.
    Steve walked down the pitch and Davey thought he was coming to congratulate him on the shot. ‘What was that?’ his brother snapped.
    â€˜A great shot?’ Davey felt on top of the world. ‘A legend in my own lunchtime?’
    â€˜A loser who doesn’t listen,’ Steve hissed.
    The two brothers glared at each other.
    â€˜Forget your history with Josh,’ Steve said. ‘I said play it safe ! Protect your wicket, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’
    Davey couldn’t believe it. How dare Steve bawl him out in front of everyone when he was playing so well?
    Who did Steve think he was? Davey thought bitterly as Steve stalked back to his end. He thought he could yell at Davey just because he was his little brother. It was so unfair!
    Davey sneaked a look at the scoreboard and the team watching from the sidelines. They looked grim. He could just make out Jerome and Danny glaring at him. With a jolt, Davey realised Steve was right. He’d been thinking about himself and not the whole team.
    Realising the seriousness of the situation, Davey concentrated on protecting his wicket while letting Steve score most of the runs. He deflected the next delivery off his hip for a single, to put Steve back on strike.
    â€˜Good one, Davey.’ Steve praised his efforts.
    The brothers communicated well and finally began to work together as a team. They managed to put on fifty runs together. While Davey’s contribution was only seventeen, it was much needed. They were getting very close to the target.
    With nine runs still needed to win, the Skiffs’ best fast bowler, Zane, came back into the attack for his last over. Steve cut the first ball for four, but going for a big shot on the next ball, he was caught behind. That was it. He was out.
    This time he didn’t give Davey any advice as he walked off the pitch. Davey kind of wished he had.
    The fate of the game rested with Davey and the Sandhill Saints’ number eleven.

CHAPTER 15
POETRY IN MOTION
    With just five runs still needed to win the game, out walked Harry, the number eleven batter. Harry was a great bowler but a well-known bunny. He’d do almost anything to get out of batting and the whole team supported him in this wish. It was harsh but true – Harry was the world’s worst batter.
    Davey met Harry mid-pitch. He noticed that Harry was carrying two bats.
    â€˜Your mates thought you might need this,’ Harry said, handing a bat to Davey.
    Davey took the bat and looked at it in surprise. It was Kaboom! Davey had never been so pleased to see a piece of wood in his life.
    â€˜What the . . . ?’ Davey looked up at the stand and saw Kevin, George and Sunil with his dad. So the boys had made it to the game. And they’d brought Kaboom? Davey couldn’t get his head around it. How did they get Kaboom away from Mudge?
    â€˜Forget about the bat, Davey,’ Harry said.