Imam-ul-Haq shines for Yorkshire with sparkling 159 following Pak snub, setting up a 202-run win at Northampton.
Imam-ul-Haq sends Pakistan reminder with 159 for Yorkshire.
The Metro Bank One Day Cup at Wantage Road saw Yorkshire defeat Northamptonshire by 202 runs thanks to a brilliant, elegant 159 from Pakistani player Imam-ul-Haq, his greatest List A total.
Despite having nine hundreds and an average of 47.04 across his 75-match ODI career, Imam, 29, has been left out of Pakistan’s three-match series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, which begins on Friday night. Their selectors were reminded of his talent by his 159.
His innings helped Yorkshire to a massive 374 for 5, which was only five runs shy of their best team total ever against a first-class county and their greatest team total ever against Northamptonshire in List A cricket. It also contributed to Northamptonshire suffering the biggest home loss ever suffered by any List A cricket team.
Imam scored 20 fours and two sixes off 130 balls, surpassing his previous best score of 151 against England in 2019 and reaching 5,000 career List A runs. It comes after he led Yorkshire to victory over Warwickshire at Scarborough on Tuesday with a half-century.
Before becoming more aggressive, Imam’s innings was full of precise timing, flawless placement, and silky cover drives, even though he cashed in against a regularly errant Northamptonshire seam attack. With Will Luxton (41), James Wharton (66), and a feisty Matt Revis (69 off just 33 balls, his highest List A score), he had strong support in the spectators at 83, 158, and 75. Despite taking 3 for 87, Liam Guthrie’s bowling numbers dipped throughout the run-fest.
Yorkshire opening bowlers Matt Milnes and Ben Cliff set the tone with a tight stint that kept Northamptonshire out of the chase.
The hosts scored at a rate of barely 4.4 runs per over during the innings, although they will consider themselves unfortunate to have lost two early wickets. No one else made any significant contributions, although George Bartlett (30) and Justin Broad (24) formed an ambitious partnership of 49 in eight overs. With 4 for 38, Dan Moriarty was the best bowler.