England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali on Thursday, amassed a major milestone in Test cricket as he became just the fourth Englishman to 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in the longest format.
Moeen Ali’s 3000th run came on the second day of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test while he had completed his 200 wickets in the format in England’s three-wicket victory over Australia in the third Test.
Coming out to bat number three after England suffered an early blow in the form of Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali scored a gutsy half-century and anchored the innings.
He put on a vital 121-run partnership for the second with England’s first-innings hero Zak Crawley before Mitchell Starc finally got rid of him.
Moeen Ali scored 54 from 82 balls and smashed seven boundaries.
His 54-run knock took him past the 3000 Test runs mark and on to a total of 3,031 runs at an average of 28.06. He has scored 15 half-centuries and five centuries in Tests.
Notably, Moeen Ali became just the fourth English all-rounder to accomplish a double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests.
He joined Ian Botham 5,200 runs and 383 wickets in 102 Tests), Andre Flintoff (3,845 runs and 226 wickets in 79 Tests) and Stuart Broad (3,640 runs and 600 wickets in 166 Tests).
In the must-win fourth Ashes Test, England booked Australia on 317 after putting the touring side into bat first.
Resuming at an overnight score of 299/8, Australia could add 13 runs for the remaining two wickets as Chris Woakes and James Anderson ran through their tail.
Woakes led the England bowling attack with a five-for, followed by Stuart Broad‘s 2/68.
In response, Zak Crawley’s super-charged 189 powered England to 384/4 at stumps on Day 2.
The right-handed opener spearheaded England’s run spree with a scintillating knock which featured 21 boundaries and three sixes.
He shared a monumental partnership of 206 runs in just 29 overs with Joe Root, who scored a brilliant 84.
At the close, Harry Brook was unbeaten on 14 with England captain Ben Stokes 24 not out.
READ: Zak Crawley blasts ton as England seize control of fourth Ashes Test