ENGLAND TURN IT ON
Moeen Ali became the first bowler in The Oval’s 100 Test-history to take a hat trick as England wrapped up a crushing 239-run win in the third Test against South Africa on Monday.
Off-spinner Ali ended the south London ground’s landmark match when, after having Dean Elgar (136) and Kagiso Rabada caught at first slip by Ben Stokes with the last two balls of his 16th over, he had Morne Morkel lbw with the first ball of his next — although England had to first review umpire Joel Wilson’s not out decision.
It meant Ali had become the 13th England bowler to take a Test hat trick.
Victory put England 2-1 up in this fourmatch series, with just the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Friday to come.
South Africa, set a mammoth 492 for victory, were all out for 252 after lunch, with Worcestershire all-rounder Ali taking four for 45. But the way this series has see-sawed — England won the first Test at Lord’s by 211 runs and South Africa took the second at Trent Bridge by 340 runs — will give the Proteas hope of bouncing back in Manchester. South Africa resumed on 117 for four, with left-handed opener Elgar (72 not out) and Temba Bavuma (16 not out) having already helped the Pro- teas recover from 52 for four on Sunday.
Victory was all but beyond South Africa, with no side having made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test than the West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia at St John’s in 2003. Their more realistic, if difficult, goal was to bat out the minimum 98 overs on Monday’s last day to salvage a draw.
Joe Root was delighted with England’s allround effort. “What a way to celebrate the 100th Test at this ground,” Root said of off- spinner Ali’s hat-trick.
Man-of-the-match Ben Stokes, who caught two of Ali’s hat trick victims, had a good view when Morne Morkel fell lbw to complete the Worcestershire all-rounder’s treble — although England had to first review an original not out decision. “I can’t believe it didn’t get given out,” said Stokes, who helped Ali start his hat trick by catching Dean Elgar to end the opener’s gritty 136. “Credit to Dean Elgar with the innings he played. It was a really gutsy hundred, we were glad to see the back of him,” he added.
Meanwhile an elated Ali said of his hattrick ball: “I was very confident it was out.
“As soon as the ball left my hand I thought it was straight, and then when it hit the pad I was surprised the umpire (West Indies’ Joel Wilson) initially didn’t give it. “It was a great feeling. The match ball went straight into the pocket.”
Man-of-the-match Stokes had taken two wickets in two balls on Sunday to dismiss Quinton de Kock and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis after making 112 in England’s first innings 353. —