Moeen’s blitzkrieg trumps Lewis, England go 3-0 up
LONDON: Moeen Ali again proved England’s hero with the bat as they beat West Indies by six runs in a rain-marred fourth One-day International at The Oval to go an unbeatable 3-0 up with one to play in the series.
England, without Ben Stokes after he was dropped following his arrest, were on course for defeat at 181 for five chasing 357 to win.
But Ali, fresh from his matchwinning century in the third ODI at Bristol on Sunday, made an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls including six fours and two sixes.
Together with Jos Buttler (43 not out), he added 77 in eight overs.
England were ahead under D/L when rain stopped play with their score on 258 for five off 35.1 overs
The match might have been beyond them had Evin Lewis, who made a stunning 176, not retired hurt in the 47th over after deflecting a Jake Ball delivery onto his right ankle.
It was later announced that man-of-the-match Lewis, who had to be wheeled off the field on a stretcher and went to hospital without fielding, had suffered a hairline fracture that would sideline him for at least two weeks.
Defeat was also tough on West Indies paceman Alzarri Joseph, who took all of England’s wickets during an ODI best haul of five for 56. “Evin set the tone for us up front,” said West Indies captain Jason Holder. “Unfortunately he was unable to bat in the last few overs.
“It’s not often one guy scores 170, another gets five wickets and you lose the game.”
Lewis’s innings, which surpassed his previous ODI hundred of 148 against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo in November last year, was the cornerstone of West Indies’ 356 for five. BRIEF SCORES West Indies 356/5 (E Lewis retired hurt 176, J Holder 77, C Woakes 3/71) England 258/5 (J Roy 84, M Ali 48*, A Joseph 5/56)