Ahmed comes in from the cold to spark England win over New Zealand at T20 World Cup

Colombo — Rehan Ahmed marked his first appearance at the Twenty20 World Cup with a match-turning performance that kept England’s campaign alive and left New Zealand facing an uphill route to the knockout stage. The 19-year-old leg-spinner, overlooked for the opening fixtures, was unleashed in Colombo and responded with the composure of a veteran, claiming key wickets and choking the scoring rate during the middle overs. England cannot guarantee Ahmed another outing in the tournament, but his immediate impact has given the defending champions a timely jolt of momentum. New Zealand, who arrived with hopes of sealing a semi-final berth, were stifled by Ahmed’s variations and sharp turn, eventually falling short of a par total. The result leaves the White Ferns needing favours from elsewhere, while England move one step closer to the qualification spots with a crucial net-run-rate boost. Ahmed’s arrival from the periphery has transformed the mood around the group, and although selection remains fluid, his debut has already etched a memorable chapter in England’s title defence.