Practice makes perfect for Rehan Ahmed as Leicestershire's batting improvement continues

NICK HOWSON: There was no second first-class hundred for the England record-breaker who combined patience with some dominant strokeplay to frustrate Glamorgan in the County Championship

It is a tribute to 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed's ability to see the bigger picture that it isn't the failure to reach a second first-class century that disappointed him the most, but the manner in which he fell short against Glamorgan in the County Championship.

Attempting to whip Timm van der Gugten through midwicket, he was caught on the front pad and given his marching orders.

But by then the damage had been done. He and Peter Handscomb had put on 177 for the sixth wicket, their second-century partnership of the season already with Ahmed flaying boundaries through third, cover and down the ground. He showed no fear against a visitors' attack moving the ball in the air and off the seam.

Awareness of what made this innings so important is what is likely to make Ahmed so important to the club and country. It built the foundations for a third 400-plus score in as many matches, helping to take Leicestershire onto eight batting bonus points for the season (they accrued just 26 in the whole of 2022) and leaves ahead in the match at the halfway stage.

"I was more frustrated with the way I got out to be fair, it wasn't really on three figures," he told reporters. "If I could I'd try for as long as I can but that's not going to happen.

^{Rehan Ahmed, often the most relaxed person in the room (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

"I played my natural game I don't try to overhit. We balance each other really well, we're both chilled and do the basics right.

"(There is confidence) not just in the batting line-up but the whole team, the energy. We've got batting down until 11 so me going out out at 168 for 5, I knew there was a lot of batting behind us. For us to get 400 they'd have to bowl well so I think at the moment everyone is in a good place.

"Everyone worked very hard over the winter as a group, with Tich (James Taylor) as well on the batting, and we're in a very good place."

Despite Ahmed's desire to attack, conditions weren't conducive for an all-out approach. Michael Neser and Van der Gugten, in particular, achieved prodigious movement across the first two days. Patience was required, waiting for the bad balls and duly punishing them.

"I was just looking straight I guess and just waiting for them to miss their lengths," he added. "You couldn't go searching and there was a bit in the wicket and they bowled really well as well.

"It is more confidence I think. I trust that as much as I trust my defence. I've trained a lot so I just back it.

"Whatever I do in the game is what I do in training so I train as much as I can and it's been paying off lately.

^{Peter Handscomb won the battle of the Australia batters, reaching 95 on day two (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

"(Playing with enjoyment) comes naturally. I enjoy batting a lot and it kind of just happens and I look at it.

"For me, I don’t really look at hundreds and fifties for myself, I look at how important the runs are. Today was a good partnership with me and Pete in terms of how the game has gone."

Though he had to wait until the penultimate over before tea, the 19th, it came in time to deliver four balls to Australia's Marnus Labuschagne, who stepped back and fended off the young legspinner routinely. The ICC's No.1 Test batter would eventually fall to Ed Barnes for 64.

"I just tried to hit the stumps I guess," Ahmed reflected on his approach. "He is a great player so it was good to get him out tonight instead of tomorrow morning."

The dominant player of the day, he should have had the final word but Sol Budinger put down an easy chance to dismiss Sam Northeast at midwicket. But you fancy he won't have to wait long for his next success.

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