On the first day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge, Surrey closed at 339-5, thanks to Rory Burns’ impressive 161. However, the spotlight shifted to 16-year-old off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, who made a remarkable debut in first-class cricket by taking 4-69 from 28 overs, including the wickets of Burns, Ben Foakes, and Will Jacks.
Burns, fresh off a double century against Lancashire, put Surrey in a strong position as they chase their third consecutive title. Alongside half-centuries from Jacks and Ryan Patel, Surrey capitalised on a Nottinghamshire side weakened by injuries and player absences, including Olly Stone’s Test call-up and Dane Paterson’s paternity leave. The home team also introduced pace bowler Rob Lord, who was making his first-class debut.
Despite being swept for six and four by Burns early on, Ahmed, the younger brother of Leicestershire and England's Rehan Ahmed, made history as the youngest first-class player for Nottinghamshire at 16 years and 189 days. Although he narrowly missed dismissing Burns before lunch, Surrey ended the session at 88-1, with Lord taking the sole wicket of Dom Sibley, caught at second slip after glancing a rising delivery.
After lunch, Burns continued his strong form, reaching his fifty from 104 balls and surviving a leg-before appeal from Ahmed at 78. He brought up his century with a fortunate inside edge off Lyndon James that trickled away for four. A 175-run partnership with Patel, who was eventually caught behind for 77—Ahmed’s first Championship wicket—put Surrey in command at 203-2 by tea.
As the day progressed, Burns struck Freddie McCann for his third six before reaching 150. But with the new ball just two overs old, Ahmed struck back, dismissing Burns and Foakes in consecutive deliveries. Although Jacks survived the hat-trick ball, he was later caught on the long-off boundary after hitting Ahmed for his third six, giving the young spinner his fourth wicket of the day.