Rehan Ahmed Six-Fer Spins Leicestershire Into Huge Lead
Wed 23 Jul 2025
By Nigel Gardner, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.
England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed claimed career-best figures as Leicestershire took control of the Rothesay County Championship match against Derbyshire on a record-breaking day at the Central Co-op County Ground.
Ahmed followed his hundred on day one by taking 6 for 51 from 20 overs with his leg spin to bowl the hosts out for 189 in reply to the Division Two leaders’ 398.
Lewis Hill scored 151 and Peter Handscomb 101 but the visitors collapsed to Luis Reece who took 5 for 12 in seven overs to finish with 6 for 56.
When they resumed on 357 for 3, Leicestershire’s sights would have been set on 500 plus but they managed only 41 more as Reece ran through them.
Handscomb completed his hundred in the second over of the morning but then played at one from Zak Chappell that moved away to take the outside edge. The rest of the session belonged to Reece whose relentless disciplined line was too much to handle.
Ian Holland edged a drive to be caught by Brooke Guest standing up and after Hill on drove Reece for four to reach 150, he pushed at the next ball and was caught behind.
Louis Kimber drove an easy catch to Wayne Madsen before Reece struck twice in an over. Ben Green was beaten by swing and former Derbyshire bowler Logan Van Beek was also snared at cover for a duck.
When Liam Trevaskis was bowled by Alex Thomson in the next over, the visitors had lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.
Derbyshire lost David Lloyd in the first over of their reply when he shouldered arms to Holland, but Caleb Jewell and Harry Came then dug in until Ahmed struck either side of tea.
The pair batted sensibly, both passing 50, to add 112 from 215 balls but Came then dragged a pull into the hands of mid-on.
Wayne Madsen went in the leg-spinner’s next over, caught at slip playing a big drive, and Ahmed claimed Jewell’s wicket immediately after the interval.
The Australian was trapped lbw going back in his crease and Aneurin Donald was caught behind cutting after a brief counter attack.
Ahmed turned one past Reece’s defensive push before bowling Chappell to become the first Leicestershire player to score a hundred and take six wickets in an innings since Phil Simmons against Durham in 1996.
Derbyshire’s slide continued with Guest edging a drive at Trevaskis to slip before Thomson was run out and Kimber removed Jack Morley in the final over to leave Derbyshire trailing by 209 runs heading into the third day.
