Farhan Ahmed Shines as Nottinghamshire Seize Control at Trent Bridge

Farhan Ahmed Shines as Nottinghamshire Seize Control at Trent Bridge

Farhan Ahmed, the 17-year-old off-spinner widely regarded as one of England’s brightest young talents, delivered a standout performance to put Nottinghamshire in command against Sussex in their County Championship clash at Trent Bridge. On a seamer-friendly surface, Ahmed’s remarkable maturity and control helped halt Sussex’s momentum and swung the match back in the hosts’ favour.

After Sussex were bowled out for 169 and Nottinghamshire posted 300 in reply, Farhan entered the second innings with his side leading by 131 runs and short of seam-bowling options. Senior pacer Brett Hutton had left the field with a niggle, placing greater responsibility on Ahmed’s young shoulders. He responded with a marathon 17-over spell that yielded 2 for 45 and turned the game on its head.

Farhan’s spell brought immediate dividends, removing Daniel Hughes—caught behind—and trapping Tom Clark lbw in quick succession. His accuracy and composure gave captain Haseeb Hameed the breathing room to manage a depleted attack, allowing seamers Josh Tongue and Fergus O'Neill to rotate effectively from the other end.

By tea on day two, Sussex had slumped to 138 for 5, their lead trimmed to just seven. Ahmed’s spell, which featured just four boundaries, was a masterclass in pressure bowling. His subtle variations and control stifled scoring opportunities, forcing errors from the batters. Even Sussex’s in-form opener Tom Haines, who scored 64, struggled to dominate Ahmed before falling to a superb return catch by O’Neill.

Fergus O’Neill also played a pivotal role, claiming 3 for 60, including the key wickets of Haines and Ollie Carter. Liam Patterson-White and a returning Hutton chipped in with a wicket each, while Tongue's late strike further dented Sussex’s resistance. By stumps, Sussex were 195 for 7, leading by just 64 runs, with John Simpson (35*) and Jack Carson (21*) at the crease.

The day had begun with Sussex’s pace duo Jayden Seales and Ollie Robinson wreaking havoc. They shared eight wickets between them, triggering a dramatic Nottinghamshire collapse from 164 for 3 to 210 for 8. However, late-order efforts from Patterson-White (42) and Tongue (39) ensured the hosts posted a strong first-innings total of 300.

Despite the conditions favouring seamers, it was Farhan Ahmed’s spell that truly stole the show. On a surface offering little for spinners in April, his ability to impose control and take crucial wickets marked him as a generational talent, delivering far beyond his years.

With Sussex clinging to a narrow lead, the third day promises more drama. And if the pitch begins to offer turn, Ahmed could be set to play an even bigger role.

You May Interested

> Arya, Prabhsimran Dazzle but Rain Denies PBKS Victory in Washed-Out Clash
> Mitchell, Raza Power Qalandars to Second Spot After Thrilling Chase Against Sultans
> Dom Goodman’s Maiden Five-For Sparks Gloucestershire Comeback Against Leicestershire
> Farhan Ahmed Shines as Nottinghamshire Seize Control at Trent Bridge
> Anil Kumble Urges Struggling KKR to Promote Venkatesh Iyer Up the Order
> Burns, Smith, Sibley Half-Centuries Hand Surrey First-Innings Lead Over Somerset
> Ben Raine, Codi Yusuf Rip Through Worcestershire as Durham Seal Two-Day Victory
> Krunal Pandya Stars in RCB’s Win Over DC, Sends Team to Top of IPL 2025 Table
> Chappell Leads the Charge as Derbyshire Enforce Follow-On Against Middlesex
> Faheem Ashraf’s Five-Wicket Haul Powers Gladiators to Commanding Win Over Zalmi
Indian Premier League 2025 | League
🕹️ 74 Matches 👥 12 Teams 📅 30 Apr, 2025 - 30 Apr, 2025
Pakistan Super League, 2025 | League
🕹️ 34 Matches 👥 8 Teams 📅 30 Apr, 2025 - 30 Apr, 2025
Tri-Nation Series in UAE, 2025 | Domestic
🕹️ 7 Matches 👥 5 Teams 📅 30 Apr, 2025 - 30 Apr, 2025
Womens World Cup Qualifier, 2025 | Women
🕹️ 15 Matches 👥 6 Teams 📅 19 Apr, 2025 - 19 Apr, 2025
England A Women tour of Australia, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 7 Matches 👥 0 Teams 📅 26 Mar, 2025 - 15 Apr, 2025
Kolkata National Cricket Club, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 33 Matches 👥 6 Teams 📅 11 Apr, 2025 - 11 Apr, 2025
County Championship Division One, 2025 | Domestic
🕹️ 35 Matches 👥 10 Teams 📅 30 Apr, 2025 - 30 Apr, 2025
Afghanistan U19 tour of Nepal, 2025 | Domestic
🕹️ 3 Matches 👥 2 Teams 📅 11 Apr, 2025 - 11 Apr, 2025
KCC T20 Challengers B League, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 33 Matches 👥 14 Teams 📅 30 Apr, 2025 - 30 Apr, 2025
Vincy Premier League, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 30 Matches 👥 8 Teams 📅 21 Apr, 2025 - 21 Apr, 2025
Melbourne T10 League, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 22 Matches 👥 7 Teams 📅 17 Apr, 2025 - 17 Apr, 2025
Quadrangular T20I Series in Hong Kong, China, 2025 | International
🕹️ 8 Matches 👥 6 Teams 📅 13 Apr, 2025 - 13 Apr, 2025
Uganda Women tour of Namibia, 2025 | Women
🕹️ 7 Matches 👥 2 Teams 📅 17 Apr, 2025 - 17 Apr, 2025
Major League Cricket 2025 | League
🕹️ 34 Matches 👥 0 Teams 📅 12 Jun, 2025 - 13 Jul, 2025
ECS Italy, Bologna, 2025 | Local
🕹️ 29 Matches 👥 10 Teams 📅 18 Apr, 2025 - 18 Apr, 2025