Ahmed brothers to resume 'backyard rivalry' after T20 clash

The next game of 'backyard cricket' between the Ahmed brothers promises more drama than their first T20 Blast meeting.England international Rehan Ahmed managed just a single off the bowling of younger brother and Notts Outlaws spinner Farhan in Leicestershire's victory at Grace Road on Thursday evening.It was the solitary run scored by the 20-year-old off his sibling on the way to a maiden T20 half-century that helped the Foxes chase down Notts' total of 156 with more than two overs to spare to win by four wickets.Rehan said facing his 17-year-old brother in a competitive match for the first time was "a great feeling", even though they had practised together earlier in the day."It felt so different out there in the middle," Rehan told BBC Radio Leicester."He has bowled to me a lot, so he knows I will try to run down and stuff, so I was just going to play it safe."The younger Ahmed should not expect similar caution from his big brother the next time they meet.Asked if he would go looking for a six or two off Farhan's bowling when they face each other at Trent Bridge on 6 July, Rehan laughed and promised fireworks much sooner."Maybe it won't be at Trent Bridge, but maybe in the back garden," he said.
The fraternal rivalry was intriguing sub-plot in a milestone knock for Leicestershire's Rehan, who freely admitted he has "really underperformed with the bat" in previous years.His 52 from 37 balls, sharing a 69-run fourth-wicket partnership with Foxes skipper Louis Kimber, who made 35 off 15, earned him the player the the match honours and high praise from head coach Alfonso Thomas."I've given him stick over the last couple of months, because he has a lot of bats upstairs and I always say he has more bats than runs," Thomas teased during a post-match interview alongside Rehan."But he has proved me wrong in the last couple of months, where he has come in and done a fantastic job for us. He is a quality performer, he is obviously an international player for us, but that is what you want from your big players - to come in and show the guys how to win games."Leicestershire's fifth win from eight T20 Blast games put them second in the Northern Group and well placed to advance to the knockout stage of the competition for the first time since 2020.

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