England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has continued his successful transformation into a top-order red-ball batter, scoring his fourth century of the season in the County Championship for Leicestershire today (July 22).
Rehan Ahmed recovers Leicestershire from rocky start
After choosing to bat in Derby, Leicestershire lost both openers before scoring any runs on the opening morning of the fixture. Rishi Patel was caught behind off his third ball at the crease while Sol Budinger lasted two balls of the following over before he was bowled by Blair Tickner, leaving Leicestershire 0-2. The first wicket brought Rehan, batting at No.3, to the crease.
From there, the 20-year-old all-rounder blasted a 118-ball hundred to take his side out of trouble, having reached 163-2 after lunch on day one. He was aided by a supporting act from Lewis Hill, who reached his half-century off 116 balls.
Match 87, Derbyshire vs Leicestershire
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Leg-spinner to top-order batter transformation continues
This innings was Rehan's fourth century of the County Championship season, having been promoted up the order from his previous middle-order role.
At first, he was moved up to open in a small chase during their first game of the season, before reprising the role when Patel was ruled out of Leicestershire's following fixture against Derbyshire. In that match, Rehan helped set up a declaration with 77 off 59 balls in the second innings. He scored his second first-class century in the next match against Lancashire, but moved down the order to three when Patel was fit again. Rehan has now scored three centuries from that position, a 136 against Lancashire and 106 against Glamorgan.
His innings today, however, came to an end when he skied a ball from Zak Chappell and was caught in the deep by Caleb Jewell for 115. By the time his wicket fell, he and Hill had taken Leicestershire from 0-2 to 169-3.
*Photo credit @leicsccc
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