England on brink of Pakistan series whitewash after Rehan Ahmed’s record-breaking five-wicket haul

Rehan Ahmed became the youngest debutant in history to take a five-wicket haul as he took five for 48 on Monday to leave England needing just 167 to claim a famous series whitewash in Pakistan.

It wasn’t until the 41st over of the day that captain Ben Stokes turned to Ahmed with the ball, but it was a move that changed the complexion of the innings as Ahmed produced a remarkable display that reduced Pakistan from 164 for three to 216 all out.

His fifth wicket, the final of the innings, was a top-edged sweep from Agha Salman that was comfortably caught by Harry Brook and provoked joyous celebrations from all corners of the ground as Ahmed himself dropped to the floor in prayer.

The pressure and expectation on Ahmed was immense in the lead-up to the game, as no matter how hard a cricketing public tried not to build expectations around the teenager, it was an impossible task given the excitement in which England spoke of a player with just three first-class matches to his name before this.

His first wicket was his worst, but broke the floodgates for what followed. Across the day, the only resistance that Pakistan showed was through the bats of Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel, but the former, having only just reached a half-century, would pull a long-hop from Ahmed straight to Ollie Pope at midwicket who took an excellent catch.

It was a wicket that broke a century stand and preceded a collapse. Next to go was Mohammad Rizwan, who feathered a classical legbreak from Ahmed behind to a jubilant Stokes. If Babar’s wicket was luck, this was judgement.

And a third followed in Ahmed’s next over as a top-edged sweep from Saud found the hands of Jack Leach. In the space of 17 balls, Ahmed had taken three wickets as Pakistan fell from 164 for three to 178 for six.

A wicket apiece for Joe Root and Mark Wood saw Pakistan slip further to eight down, but by this point the record books were calling for Ahmed whose fourth wicket arrived after Mohammad Wasim was caught at mid-off, before Agha Salman completed the set.

Ahmed’s walk-off was special, as he tossed the ball from hand-to-hand in between salutes to a crowd that included his father Naeem.

But whilst it was Ahmed who dominated the second-half of the day, it was Leach who had set it up. Pakistan’s innings was a tale of two collapses, the second instigated by Ahmed. The first was caused by Leach, as amid an otherwise serene morning session the spinner removed the entire Pakistan top three in the space of six balls.

Between the two of them, Leach and Ahmed had combined to bowl Pakistan out for 216 and leave England 167 for victory. With more than an hour still to play, England sensed a chance for a three-day finish and openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put their foot down. After seven overs, England were 64 for none as they chased a famous victory.