Three days after scoring a fifty on debut for Yorkshire, Imam-ul-Haq notched up his first hundred for the county in the One-Day Cup.
The Pakistan opener, who was a last-minute addition in Yorkshire’s squad for the remainder of the season, replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad, made his debut for the team in a County Championship game against Sussex last month. He did not have a memorable outing, making 19 in the team total of 545-9d.
However, he turned it around in the One-Day Cup against Warwickshire, where, in a run chase of 138, Imam scored an 83-ball 55 as Yorkshire got over the line with five wickets and 17.1 overs to spare. He registered triple figures in the very next game - against Northamptonshire today (August 8), scoring at more than a run-a-ball during his knock.
Imam-ul-Haq records career-best List A score of 159
Imam’s opening partner Adam Lyth was dismissed in the third over for 3, but Imam and William Luxton steadied the innings, scoring 83 for the second wicket. Luxton was run out for 41, after Imam was caught ball-watching, with the non-striker having to return despite running halfway down the track.
Imam was unfazed by the dismissal, as he kept going, bringing up his second successive fifty in 58 balls. He needed only 37 more deliveries to bring up his 11th List A ton, reaching 13 fours en route to his milestone. Yorkshire were 176-2 in 31.3 overs at this point.
Match 13, Northamptonshire vs Yorkshire
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He eventually made 159 in 130 balls, hitting two sixes and 20 fours in a knock that came at a strike rate of 122.30. It is his highest List A score, beating his previous best of 151, scored in an ODI against England in 2019. Imam's 159 is also the sixth-highest score for Yorkshire in List A cricket, after Darren Lehmann (191), Travis Head (175), Jonny Bairstow (174), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (164) and Matthew Wood (160).
The left-hander, who has played 75 ODIs for Pakistan, scoring 3,152 runs at 47.04, has nine tons in the format.
Yorkshire are currently seventh on the table, with three wins from 11 games.
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