Rehan Ahmed takes two wickets on Test debut as England dismiss Pakistan for 304 on day one in Karachi | Cricket News

Teenager Rehan Ahmed claimed two wickets on the day he became England’s youngest men’s Test cricketer of all time as the tourists bowled Pakistan out for 304 in their pursuit of a historic 3-0 series sweep.

The leg-spinner, making his Test bow at 18 years and 126 days, bowled a jittery five overs before lunch, conceding 37 runs as he struggled to find his length in Karachi.

However, Ahmed (2-89 from 22 overs) struck in memorable style in the second session with an excellent leg break accounting for Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel (23) before he pinned Faheem Ashraf (4) lbw with his favourite ball, the googly, in the evening.

England closed on 7-1 from three overs in reply to trail by 297- Zak Crawley (0) pinned lbw by Abrar Ahmed on the back foot as the Pakistan leg-spinner backed up his 11-wicket outing during last week’s second Test in Multan.

Babar Azam (78) and Agha Salman (56) passed fifty for Pakistan but their score looks below par on a flat surface, albeit that the pitch offered more turn as the day progressed with Ahmed starring, Jack Leach completing figures of 4-140 and Abrar then dismissing Crawley.

Ahmed, who had beaten Shakeel’s outside edge with a terrific googly the ball before, had Ollie Pope to thank for his maiden wicket with his team-mate taking a superb one-handed grab at short leg after left-hander Shakeel had inside edged onto his pad, sparking vibrant celebrations from Ahmed’s father in the crowd.

The biggest wicket England claimed was that of Pakistan skipper Babar, run out at the wicketkeeper’s end after the recalled Ben Foakes collected Harry Brook’s throw, but the most memorable scalps were taken by Ahmed, who has eclipsed Brian Close (18 years and 149 days) as England men’s youngest player.

The Leicestershire all-rounder mixed the odd short ball and overpitched delivery with fizzing leg-breaks and sharply-spinning googlies, with Ashraf narrowly avoiding nicking one fine googly from around the wicket two overs before a similar one trapped him plumb in front.

Stokes protected the youngster with some defensive fields – a rarity over the last seven months during the new era of ‘Bazball’ – as he became the first England leg-spinner to take two wickets in his debut innings since Ian Salisbury against Pakistan at Lord’s in 1992.

More to follow…