Khaled ‘fills Hasan’s shoes’ with maiden county fifer

Bangladesh fast bowler Khaled Ahmed claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in county cricket as he helped Kent recover after Lancashire’s strong start on Day 1 in Canterbury on Tuesday.

Khaled’s Kent teammate Matt Milnes was full of praise for the Bangladesh seamer, who stepped in after fellow fast bowler Hasan Mahmud returned home for national duty.

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“It was obviously a big blow for us losing Hasan [Mahmud]. He’s obviously a high-class bowler. But for Khaled to step into his shoes, he has really big shoes to fill, but to step into them and do the job today, I thought he bowled really nicely,” Milnes was quoted as saying by Kent on their website.

Khaled’s incisive spell saw Lancashire bowled out for 161 after Kent were asked to field first. The 33-year-old finished with five for 42 in 15.5 overs, including four maidens, to claim his 10th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Lancashire made a flying start, putting on 81 for the opening wicket before Khaled provided Kent with the breakthrough by having Keaton Jennings caught.

He then trapped Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, lbw for a duck to claim his second wicket.

After Lancashire lost five wickets for 115, wicketkeeper-batter Matty Hurst offered some resistance with a 61-ball 37. Khaled ended his stay by having him caught at slip for his third wicket.

The right-arm pacer returned later in the innings and struck twice in successive deliveries, dismissing Mitchell Stanley and Lancashire captain James Anderson to complete his five-for.

It was only Khaled’s second appearance for Kent. Hasan had also claimed a five-wicket haul for the county earlier in the season.