South Africa fight back, but Moeen Ali ensures England remain in control

Moeen Ali’s sparkling strokeplay in his undefeated 67 put England in total control of the fourth test with a lead of 360 over South Africa at Old Trafford.

England ended a third day curtailed by early evening rain on 224-8 and, with two full days remaining, will be confident of wrapping up a 3-1 series win. Although the comfort of their first-innings lead meant there would have been few nerves in the England dressing room, the hosts were struggling at 134-6 when Moeen walked to the crease. Jonny Bairstow, whose first-innings 99 had been key to England’s lead, soon departed for 10, leaving Moeen with only the lower order for support.

England had struggled against the spin of Keshav Maharaj who was making the most of the rough outside off-stump to the left-handed batsmen. But Moeen took the game to the left-arm spinner, putting on a 58-run partnership with Toby Roland-Jones and eliminating the concern over the rough with positive footwork. Three times Moeen hit Maharaj for six and his confidence, shot selection and execution raised the question of why he is batting down at number eight.

After Roland-Jones departed, top-edging as he tried to pull Kagiso Rabada, Stuart Broad joined Moeen …read more