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Imam-Ul-Haq's Hundred For Yorkshire Ends In Defeat As Hampshire Enter One-Day Cup Final

Jatin

Imam-ul-Haq scored a brilliant hundred [Source: @YorkshireCCC/x.com]Imam-ul-Haq scored a brilliant hundred [Source: @YorkshireCCC/x.com]

Imam-ul-Haq played yet another gem of an innings but it wasn’t enough to carry Yorkshire over the line. The Pakistan opener cracked a brilliant hundred, yet Hampshire held their nerve to clinch an 18-run win in a rain-hit semi-final at the North Marine Road Ground on Sunday.

Imam-ul-Haq Fights Hard But Hampshire Book Final Spot

With that, Hampshire sealed their place in the One-Day Cup final, where they will lock horns with Worcestershire at Trent Bridge on September 20.

Hampshire’s innings was built on a masterclass from Liam Dawson. The all-rounder smashed 142 off 116 balls filled with 13 boundaries and seven maximums, setting the tone for a massive total.

Scott Currie gave the finishing touch with a quickfire unbeaten 61 off 40 balls, while Ben Mayes chipped in with 37. The scoreboard read 304/6 at the end of 50 overs and it looked like Yorkshire were in for a stiff chase.

Imam’s Lone Fight

Chasing a revised 254 in 41 overs after rain intervened, Yorkshire leaned heavily on Imam-ul-Haq. And he didn’t disappoint. The left-hander stroked his way to 105 off 97 balls, a knock which included 15 fours.

This was his fourth century of the tournament and it further cemented his place as the competition’s leading run-scorer. But while Imam stood tall, wickets kept tumbling around him. William Luxton’s 30 and Harry Duke’s 19 were mere cameos and Yorkshire ended at 235/8, still 18 runs adrift.

Hampshire Bowlers Rise To The Occasion

Hampshire’s bowlers shared the spoils to back Dawson’s batting fireworks. Dawson himself picked up two wickets to cap a dream day. Currie, who had earlier swung his bat with authority, bagged two scalps as well. Young Eddie Jack also struck twice while Brad Wheal chipped in with one.

Imam Continues Golden Run

Despite Yorkshire’s defeat, Imam remains the tournament’s standout batter. With 688 runs in eight matches at an astonishing average of 98.28 and a strike rate of 97.45, he has three fifties and four centuries to his name. He has been Yorkshire’s backbone throughout the competition but this time even his heroics couldn’t prevent Hampshire from storming into the final.

The win means Hampshire will now gear up for a shot at silverware when they face Worcestershire in the grand finale. With Dawson in sublime touch and their bowlers showing composure under pressure, Hampshire will walk into Trent Bridge with confidence sky-high. As for Imam, it was yet another day where his brilliance shone bright but the team around him couldn’t quite match the standard.