England vs Pakistan Fourth Test: Centurion Moeen Ali emerges victorious from Yasir Shah battle on close opening day

Centurion: Moeen Ali celebrates his third Test century
GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse11 August 2016

To understand how the balance of power has shifted from Pakistan to England in this Test series, study the duel between Yasir Shah and Moeen Ali.

In the First Investec Test at Lord’s, Yasir took 10 wickets in the match, bowling the tourists to victory. The moment that symbolised his mastery of the England batsman came in the second innings.

Moeen, new to the crease, advanced to the leg-spinner’s fourth delivery, trying to smash him into St John’s Wood. He played a fresh-air shot, was bowled and England eventually lost by 75 runs.

A little less than a month later, and with England now leading the series 2-1, the story is a little different.

We are in the evening session on day one at The Kia Oval and Moeen has reached 97, after making two match-turning fifties to help England secure a surprise win in the Third Test at Edgbaston.

Hoping to induce a mistake from Moeen as he approaches three figures, Yasir gives the ball extra flight. Once more, Moeen moves down the pitch but on this occasion, his timing is perfect and his aim true.

The ball sails into the crowd at deep midwicket. Moeen removes his helmet and raises both arms as his team-mates on the balcony applaud his third Test century. At Lord’s, Moeen’s contribution hastened defeat. Here, for the third innings in a row, he has helped revive England’s effort.

When Moeen walked to the wicket, England were 110 for five. Alastair Cook and Joe Root had fallen relatively cheaply, James Vince had failed again and Gary Ballance had made just eight. When he was last out for 108, caught in the deep off Sohail Khan who claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests, England were 328 all out.

His work had changed England’s mood and Pakistan lost opener Sami Aslam for three before the close, leg-before to Stuart Broad. As in other matches in this series, their early good work had been undone, and Moeen had played a huge role.

Moeen’s first delivery was a helmet-clanger from Wahab Riaz. He was then dropped on nine by Azhar Ali at third slip, off Mohammad Amir, who kicked the ground in fury. So Moeen had some luck – but he sure made the most of it.

Jonny Bairstow bats during day one
Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Moeen was part of two partnerships that changed the rhythm of the day. With Jonny Bairstow, who scored 55, he added 93 for the sixth wicket, before combining with Chris Woakes (49) to pile on 79 from just 86 deliveries.

It seems churlish to mention that Moeen’s primary job is as the senior spin bowler – and he has yet to prove he is up to it at the highest level. Yet he has abundant talent with the bat, and when England tour Bangladesh and India this winter, he may be moved up the order in place of James Vince.

Vince’s days look numbered. He made just one here and although he was undone by a good delivery from Wahab, he looks unlikely to be named in the winter tour squads – barring a huge contribution in the second innings.

His wicket was the fourth to fall. Alex Hales, another man under pressure, was the first to go, to a disputed catch at short square-leg.

Yasir claimed he had claimed the ball cleanly and, after three minutes of studying inconclusive replays, TV umpire Joel Wilson agreed – because Hales had already been given out on the field. Hales was unhappy with the call and muttered angrily to himself as he left the field.

Cook made a fluent 35 before dragging an attempted pull on to his stumps, while Root was caught behind for 26 fencing at Wahab. Pakistan’s fielding was flawed again: before they spilled Moeen, Cook was also put down at first slip.

Ballance, who made eight, was also undone by Wahab, as Azhar Ali claimed a juggling catch at third slip. Then Pakistan’s day started to unravel. Bairstow drove a wide ball from Wahab into the hands of point – but Wahab had overstepped. Bairstow had 13 at the time and added 42 more runs. Moeen was reprieved soon afterwards.

The stands been Bairstow and Moeen, and Moeen and Woakes, left Pakistan dispirited. Broad made a two-ball duck but both Steven Finn (eight) and Jimmy Anderson hung around to irritate them further. It was no surprise, therefore, to see the tourists lose an early wicket in the closing overs and they will resume on Friday three for one, and in a tight spot.

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