The twirler turned heads during England’s run to the Under-19 Cricket World Cup final earlier this year, taking 12 wickets at 12.58, the second-most by an England bowler. He has since earned a maiden contract in The Hundred, snapped up by Southern Brave in the £50,000 price bracket, and has impressed during his first T20 Blast campaign, an ever-present for the Leicestershire Foxes, with 14 wickets and an economy rate of 7.26.

The most eye-catching aspect of his bowling so far has been his big-turning googly, and that was on full display in a career-best bowling display at Chester-le-Street. Defending 158 to win, Ahmed struck two key blows after Durham emerged from the powerplay just one wicket down, dismissing Graham Clark, caught on the boundary by Ben Mike after mistiming a full toss, and taking a juggling return catch to see off the on-loan Ollie Robinson.

However, it was the dismissals of Ned Eckersley and Andrew Tye that really stood out, with both caught out by sharp turn back in from wide on the off-side. Both were bowled, and Ahmed ended figures of 4-22, his first four-for in professional cricket. Leicestershire Foxes won by 51 runs, and currently sit sixth in the North Group of the T20 Blast.

Watch the ripping Rehan Ahmed spell below:

Those googlies. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0pWXG5ALRo

— Leicestershire Foxes 🦊 (@leicsccc) June 20, 2022