Rehan Ahmed Shines with Three Wickets Putting England in Control in Rawalpindi
Rehan Ahmed led the charge for England with a remarkable display, claiming three crucial wickets on the second morning of the deciding third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The leg-spinner, who had been patiently waiting for his opportunity for eight months since his last cap, left his mark by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, and Aamer Jamal.
Initially, Pakistan seemed to be in a comfortable position at 144 for four, but with Ahmed’s intervention, they found themselves trailing by 80 runs as they reached the lunch break at 187 for seven. Despite Saud Shakeel’s impressive unbeaten 72, Ahmed’s bowling figures of three for 25 tilted the balance in England’s favour.
The day started with spin from both ends for England, with Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir operating in tandem. Although Shakeel was presented with a lifeline early on when he edged the off-spinner, England’s wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was unable to seize the opportunity behind the stumps. However, Bashir managed to break the partnership by dismissing Shan Masood with a sharp catch from Ollie Pope at second slip.
Rizwan and Shakeel attempted to accelerate the scoring, with Rizwan hitting a six off Leach and Shakeel reaching his fifty off 92 balls with a boundary off Bashir. But Ahmed’s entry into the attack shifted the momentum in England’s favour. He trapped Rizwan lbw with a deceptive delivery, before removing Salman for just one run and dismissing Jamal with a clever googly that bowled him via an inside edge.
With Pakistan’s lead reduced to 116 runs, England had firmly established their control over the game, with Ahmed emerging as the star performer of the morning session.
In summary, Rehan Ahmed’s outstanding performance with the ball turned the tables in England’s favour in the series-deciding Test match against Pakistan. His timely strikes disrupted Pakistan’s batting lineup and put England in a commanding position heading into the lunch break. The game remains finely poised, but England will be looking to capitalise on their strong start as they aim to clinch the series victory.