England wrap up series win over SA

Moeen Ali led with bat and ball to take England to a 177-run victory over South Africa in the fourth test yesterday, wrapping up a 3-1 series win.

Ali took 5-69 as South Africa were all out for 202 in their second innings soon after tea on the fourth day, well short of their target of 380 at Old Trafford.

England began their time under new captain Joe Root with a longawaited home series win over the Proteas, which had defied England in England since 1998.

It was England’s second successive series win over South Africa after winning in South Africa 18 months ago, but broke a near two-decade drought on English soil.

Ali’s haul followed up his 75 not out in England’s second-innings total of 243, which effectively took the game away from South Africa on day three.

England under Root were convincing in three of the four tests, with the only wobble coming in a heavy defeat in the second match at Trent Bridge.

However, having won by 211 runs in the opener at Lord’s, England responded to the defeat in Nottingham with dominant victories at The Oval and Old Trafford.

Already leading 2-1, England were on their way to a second straight series win over South Africa after beating the Proteas in South Africa 18 months ago.

Root called for reviews to claim successive South African wickets after Temba Bavuma was given not out caught behind off the last ball before lunch. Replays showed he’d got a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

The same umpire, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena, also gave Hashim Amla not out when he was beaten by a delivery by Ali as tea approached. The review worked again, with the ball hitting leg stump.

Amla’s departure probably ended South African hopes after he and Faf du Plessis held up England for nearly a session.

England removed three South African batsmen in 19 overs before lunch. Stuart Broad got Dean Elgar for five, James Anderson had Heino Kuhn for 11, and Toby Roland-Jones dismissed Bavuma for 12 to end the first session.

Ali was a pivotal part of England’s surge toward victory, grabbing 3-54 after scoring 75 not out with the bat in England’s second innings.

England added just 19 runs to their overnight total of 224-8 to be all out for 243 in the morning, but the damage had already been done.

Ali’s 75 came off 66 balls, a typically attacking innings from the No 8 batsman that took the match - and the series - away from South Africa on day three and left the tourists facing a ground-record chase at Old Trafford.