Birthday special: Moeen Ali – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Moeen Ali has been one of the underrated all-rounders who has had a big part to play in the England setup for the last decade across formats. He has the ability to bat any position in the line-up including opening the innings and is very useful with the ball with his off-spin. The 34-year-old can strike the big ones and provides his skipper with various contributions in the field. With more than 5000 international runs and 300 international wickets, he has been quite magnificent in both departments for his country. He turns 35 today (June 18) as we look into his three top performances in international cricket.
6 for 53 vs South Africa, Lords, 2017
In the 2017 home series against South Africa, Moeen Ali produced a scintillating performance in both the innings with the ball alongside his handy knock with the bat. The left-hander scored 87 off 147 deliveries coming in at No. 7 in the first innings, and he backed it up with 4 for 59. In the second innings, he scored just seven but bowled a brilliant spell that helped his side to victory. He finished with 6 for 53 which turned out to be his best figures in a Test innings.
128 vs Scotland, Cricket World Cup 2015
Moeen Ali was quite aggressive while opening the innings and he produced an absolute carnage at the top of the order alongside Ian Bell against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup. The duo stitched a 172-run partnership for the first wicket and Moeen went on to make a century. The offspinner scored a 107-ball 128 that included 12 fours and five sixes and transferred his confidence into his bowling. His 2 for 47 alongside his century helped England win the game by a big margin of 119 runs.
102 vs West Indies, Bristol, 2017
This was one of the best innings in international cricket as Moeen Ali ripped apart the West Indian bowling attack at the Bristol in 2017 in an ODI. The stage was well set up by the likes of Joe Root (84) and Ben Stokes (73), and Moeen grabbed the opportunity with both hands. With eight sixes and seven fours, he reached his century in just 53 balls, which is one of the fastest century by an England batter in the format.
