The Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2025 produced a cricketing phenomenon at Wantage Road, Northampton, as Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq provided a career-best 159 off 130 balls, guiding Yorkshire to a squashing 202-run success over Northamptonshire. The sophisticated left-hander’s innings not just took apart the home attack however likewise positioned severe concerns to Pakistan’s selectors, who ignored him for the West Indies series.
— Northamptonshire Steelbacks (@NorthantsCCC) August 8, 2025
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Imam’s Batting Masterclass Lights Up Northampton
Dealing with a flat pitch and brief borders, Imam-ul-Haq mixed grace with regulated hostility, peppering the field with 20 borders and 2 6s. His knock, which pressed him previous 5,000 List A profession runs, was a mix of hallmark cover drives, wristy flicks, and completely timed pulls.
From the start, Imam determined terms– turning strike early before speeding up in the latter overs. Secret collaborations with Will Luxton (41) and James Wharton (66) offered a strong base before the fireworks genuinely started.
Collaboration Power: Yorkshire’s Batting in Overdrive
Yorkshire’s innings was a masterclass in collaboration structure. Imam initially included 83 with Luxton, weathering disciplined spells from spinners Rob Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal. Came the critical 158-run stand with Wharton, where both batters moved equipments, targeting Northamptonshire’s seamers and spinners alike.
The death overs saw Matthew Revis release carnage, smashing 69 off simply 33 balls at a strike rate over 200. His attack consisted of imposing 6s and crisp borders, making sure Yorkshire published their highest-ever List An overall versus Northamptonshire– 374/5.
Chahal Under Pressure as Imam Dominates Spin
India’s Yuzvendra Chahal, renowned for his white-ball control, sustained a difficult day. He dismissed Wharton, Chahal’s 10 overs went for 69 runs, as Imam and Revis declined to let him settle. Imam’s capability to sweep and select lengths early nullified Chahal’s variations, an essential consider Yorkshire’s supremacy.
Northamptonshire Falter in the Chase
Chasing after 375, Northamptonshire’s reply never ever left very first equipment. Yorkshire’s new-ball set Matt Milnes and Ben Cliff kept things tight, while spinner Dan Moriarty (4/38) took apart the middle order.
Opener Ricardo Vasconcelos (23) and Lewis McManus (25) provided quick resistance, however wickets fell at routine periods. Collaborations were short lived, and with the needed rate ballooning, Northamptonshire were bowled out for 172– their heaviest home defeat in List A cricket.
A Timely Reminder to Pakistan Selectors
For Imam-ul-Haq, this innings was more than simply a domestic masterclass– it was a declaration. Balancing 47.04 in ODIs with 9 hundreds, Imam’s omission from Pakistan’s West Indies series raised eyebrows. His proficient 159, coming simply days after a half-century versus Warwickshire, might reignite disputes about his location in the nationwide side.
Match Summary
Yorkshire: 374/5 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 159, Revis 69, Wharton 66, Guthrie 3-87)
Northamptonshire: 172 all out in 39 overs (Moriarty 4-38)
Outcome: Yorkshire won by 202 runs
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