Rehan brings Yorkshire back to earth as Leicestershire finally win at home

A Dramatic Turn of Fortune at Grace Road

Leicestershire Foxes recorded their first home win in any format this season at the fifth attempt as they beat Yorkshire, who were unchanged for a fourth successive match, by 12 runs at Grace Road. Yorkshire remain clear at the head of the Vitality Blast North Group, but their charge was halted in spectacular fashion. Needing just 48 runs from 44 balls while sitting comfortably at 100 for 3, the visitors suffered an unbelievable collapse, losing their final seven wickets for a mere 35 runs. Three of those crucial wickets fell to Rehan Ahmed’s brilliant legbreaks in the space of just 13 deliveries, turning the game completely on its head.

Foxes Rebuild After Early Shocks

Having been put in to bat first, the Leicestershire Foxes endured a rocky start. Rehan Ahmed, recently released from England Lions duty, opened the batting but lasted only two deliveries. He skipped down the pitch to face Pakistan international Hassan Ali, only to swipe the ball directly to mid-on for a second-ball duck. Just two overs later, new batsman Nick Kelly survived a massive scare when he was dropped in the deep off Faheem Ashraf when he was on just two runs.

Despite the early setbacks, the Foxes found their footing. By the end of the six-over powerplay, they had reached 46 for 2. Yorkshire quickly regretted dropping Kelly as the New Zealander began to find the boundary regularly, including his first six in the seventh over. Jonny Tattersall, facing his former teammates for the first time, also enjoyed a slice of luck when he was dropped on six after James Wharton lost his footing on the mid-wicket boundary. At the halfway mark, the Foxes looked poised for a big total at 75 for 2 after nine overs.

Hassan Ali Demolishes the Middle Order

However, Yorkshire’s bowling attack, led by a superb spell from Hassan Ali, fought back strongly. Hassan delivered an exceptional 11th over, conceding only a single run while finally dismissing the dangerous Kelly for 44. This breakthrough triggered a massive slide as Leicestershire crumbled from 90 for 2 to 96 for 6, losing four wickets in the space of 15 balls. Ashton Turner departed for a duck, Tattersall was clean-bowled for 29, and Ben Green fell LBW to Jafer Chohan for just one.

It was left to the experienced Ben Cox to rescue the innings. During his fighting knock, Cox passed the milestone of 3,000 T20 career runs. Remaining unbeaten on 33, he helped Leicestershire scramble 47 runs from the final six overs to post a total of 147 for 8. Although it seemed slightly below par, Cox’s contribution would prove to be match-defining. Hassan Ali finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 18, his first four-wicket haul since joining Yorkshire this season.

The Chase: Bairstow’s Blitz and the Turning Point

Chasing a target of 148, Yorkshire captain Jonny Bairstow, opening the innings, looked determined to wrap up the chase quickly. Bairstow, the second-highest run-scorer in this summer’s Vitality Blast, hammered 14 runs off the very first over of the chase. He looked in imperious touch, racing to 39 runs from just 21 deliveries. However, the introduction of Ian Holland in the fifth over turned the tide. Holland struck gold in his first five balls, dismissing both Bairstow and his opening partner Adam Lyth to leave Yorkshire at 54 for 2.

Will Luxton kept Yorkshire on track with a fluent 38, showing great composure under pressure. By the end of the ninth over, Yorkshire were well-placed at 72 for 2, almost identical to Leicestershire’s score at the same stage. But the pressure began to mount when the out-of-touch James Wharton was clean-bowled for 2 off 10 balls while attempting an unconventional ramp shot.

The Dramatic Collapse and Rehan’s Heroics

Despite Wharton’s departure, Yorkshire still appeared to have the game fully under control at 100 for 3. With 48 runs required from 44 balls and established batsmen at the crease, victory seemed highly probable. However, the introduction of Rehan Ahmed completely dismantled Yorkshire’s batting lineup. Luxton was the first to fall in the collapse, trapped LBW by Rehan for a well-made 38.

In the very next over, complete panic set in. Moeen Ali attempted a risky third run and was brilliantly run out by a combination of Rehan and wicketkeeper Ben Cox. Matt Revis was the next to go, departing for just five runs. Suddenly, Yorkshire found themselves six wickets down and needing 35 runs from the final four overs. The lower order offered brief resistance for 13 balls, but the pressure proved too immense. Needing 27 runs from the final 20 deliveries, the remaining Yorkshire batsmen continued to throw their wickets away. The final wicket fell on the penultimate ball of the match, leaving Yorkshire bowled out for 135 and handing Leicestershire an improbable 12-run victory. Rehan Ahmed finished as the hero of the night, claiming 3 for 28 in a spell that will be remembered for a long time.