Moeen Ali wickets: The English all-rounder turned the tables for his team right before the new ball was due on Day 4 at Lord’s.
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During the fourth day of the second Test of the ongoing India’s tour of England at Lord’s, England all-rounder Moeen Ali picked a couple of wickets within a span of eight deliveries to put the opposition on the back foot.
Bowling his third spell in the evening session, Ali was made to change his ends as England captain Joe Root’s move reaped rewards in only the second over after India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (61) erred to edge an Ali delivery to Jos Buttler behind the wickets.
The dismissal meant that the hosts had dismissed both set batsmen as Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara (45) had joined hands to put together a resolute 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket today. Readers must note that it was a brutal short delivery from England fast bowler Mark Wood which had dismissed Pujara a few overs ago.
With the onus once again falling on wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (3), Ali prevented them from building a partnership as he bowled a magnificent delivery send back an in-form Jadeja. In a delivery which had the apt amount of drift and turn, Jadeja couldn’t prevent it from hitting his off-stump.
It was shortly after that bad light forced the umpires to bring the day’s play to an end. With India leading by 154 runs, fans can expect a riveting day of Test cricket on Monday.
Having said that, the same wouldn’t have been possible without Wood and Ali. Wood, who ended up injuring his shoulder while trying to save a run, is currently the pick of the English bowlers with bowling figures of 14-3-40-3. Ali, on the other hand, not only picked two crucial wickets but picked them at a stage when England were just wanting to bowl some overs in anticipation of the second new ball.
Moeen Ali wickets in Lord’s Test
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