The Hundred 2024: Imad Wasim castles clueless Jamie Overton with a ripper

Pakistan all-rounder, Imad Wasim, delivered a masterful gem in 16th delivery of his spell, a moment when the Manchester Originals appeared poised to seize control and overpower the Trent Rockets with them being comfortably placed in the run-chase. Imad's delivery was a magnificent seed that outfoxed the bowling all-rounder, Jamie Overton, dismissing him for a three-ball duck.

An arm ball that seamlessly penetrated Overton’s defenses crashed into the middle and leg stump, leaving him entirely confounded as he attempted to play it. Overton’s ill-fated stroke while walking down the track missed the ball entirely, illustrating his complete disorientation which left the home side with escalated pressure with 27 required off 18 deliveries.

Imad struck again just two deliveries later, delivering the ball wide as Tom Hartley, attempting a risky advance, missed completely with his swing and failed to attempt a return. The top-scorer of the match, wicketkeeper-batter, Tom Banton, swiftly removed the bails. With this, the pressure mounted significantly, intensifying the drama of the situation.

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The left-arm spinner once again delivered an exemplary performance for Rockets, as Manchester struggled to keep pace, requiring 24 runs from the final three sets (15 balls). The equation even came down to them needing six runs off the last set with Sikandar Raza and Max Holden, both having spent a sufficient amount of time at the crease to take the hosts to victory. However, under immense pressure, Jordan Thompson executed a series of remarkably composed deliveries. His precisely directed final two deliveries (99th and 100th of the innings) secured a narrow but celebrated one-run victory for the visitors.

Notably, in the preceding set before Imad's double-wicket breakthrough, Rashid Khan bowled a menacing delivery that dismissed Paul Walter, who attempted a sweep but missed entirely. This dismissal was far from ordinary; it marked Rashid's milestone 600th T20 wicket in his 438th innings.