Pakistan international Mir Hamza claimed his first Division One wicket on Warwickshire debut, nicking off Keaton Jennings for 29 on the opening day at Edgbaston.

Hamza was recently announced as a Warwickshire overseas signing, effectively replacing his compatriot Hassan Ali who is part of Pakistan’s touring party to Sri Lanka.

His first Warwickshire fixture is an important one, too. Warwickshire are third in Division One but having played a game fewer than the two sides above them in the table, Surrey and Essex. A win with maximum bonus points from their game in hand would see them overtake current leaders Surrey’s tally after the same number of games by a single point.

Will Rhodes’ side started well having won the toss and chosen to field first, reducing Lancashire to 150-7 on the first day before an unbroken 145-run eighth wicket stand between George Balderson and Tom Bailey took the away side to the close. Hamza picked up just the one wicket on the opening day but it was a big one.

Jennings was well-set on 29 before he edged an out-swinger from Hamza to Sam Hain in the slip cordon. Jennings, who last played for England in 2019, has been one of the most consistent run-scorers in county cricket in recent times. Since joining Lancashire for the start of the 2018 season he averages nearly 50 with the bat in first-class cricket, form that won him an England recall for their tour to Pakistan last year.

Hamza has played three Tests for Pakistan, the most recent coming against New Zealand at Karachi earlier this year.

You can watch Mir Hamza’s dismissal of Keaton Jennings below:

Mir Hamza’s first ☝️ as a Bear! 🔥

🐻#YouBears | #WARvLAN | @mirhamza_k pic.twitter.com/G2Eas0kZWv

— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) July 19, 2023