Root is delighted by England’s character
Moeen Ali is mobbed after taking the final wicket of Morne Morkel in the third Test against South Africa at the Oval JOE Root praised England’s character after his side produced a remarkable turnaround to beat South Africa by 239 runs in the third Test at the Oval.
A damaging defeat at Trent Bridge raised questions over England’s approach to Test cricket, but Moeen Ali’s hat trick completed a stunning victory in the 100th Test at the Oval.
Moeen took the final three wickets in successive deliveries to wrap up victory and a near-perfect performance from Root’s side, and the captain was impressed with the comeback.
Root said: “What a way to celebrate the 100th Test at this ground.
“It has been a great week for us - the way we batted in the first innings was so important, we found a really good tempo and it’s a good benchmark for us going forward.
“We got stuck in and posted a very good score on a challenging wicket.
“The way we then bowled first up was exceptional and from there, we always felt we were ahead of the game.”
On Moeen’s hat trick, which had to be referred to the third umpire after an lbw appeal was initially turned down, Ben Stokes commented: “I can’t believe it didn’t get given out!
“It was a dramatic ending to a pretty dramatic day.
“Credit to Dean Elgar with the innings he played.
“It was a really gutsy hundred, we were glad to see the back of him.
“But it was great way to end the Test match with the hat-trick. Congrats to Mo.”
Stokes was named man-of-thematch for his first-innings 112, and he admitted he had to rein in his natural attacking instincts on the first day.
“I had to work pretty hard, especially early on,” he added.
“There were some difficult periods, with the wicket offering a bit, particularly for Vernon Philander - I lost count of how many times he beat the bat.
“It’s pleasing to get through those hard times and then be able to express yourself towards the end.”
Losing captain Faf du Plessis said: “It’s obvious to say that Vernon Philander missing out for us in that first innings was a huge moment in the game.
“The conditions at that time needed someone like him, an expert in challenging the batsmen.
“To allow England 350 in that first innings was probably about 100 too many, but you have to also give credit to the way England played.” Armitage Bridge 100-4 (20) 4pts, Scholes 85-5 (20) 0pts Kirkburton 136-8 (20.0) 4pts, Holmfirth 60-8 (20.0) 0pts Thongsbridge 86-3 (20) 4pts, Honley 49-4 (20) 0pts Thurstonland 108-7 (20.0) 4pts, Shepley 63-8 (20.0) 0pts Clayton West 119-8 (20.0) 4pts, Skelmanthorpe 84-10 (20.0)
0pts Denby 57-5 (20.0) 0pts, Shelley 122-6 (20.0) 4pts Denby Dale 65-6 (20.0) 4pts, Cumberworth United 75-8
(20.0) 0pts Hoylandswaine 7 2 (20) 4pts, Greenmoor Sports Club 50-3
(20) 0pts Almondbury Wesleyans 0pts, Lascelles Hall 0pts Delph and Dobcross 118-5 (20.0) 4pts, Rastrick 50-8 (20.0)
0pts Emley Clarence 0pts, Kirkheaton 0pts Lepton Highlanders 0pts, Hall Bower 4pts Almondbury Wesleyans 2pts, Armitage Bridge 2pts Broad Oak, Birkby Rose Hill 0pts Golcar 4pts, Holmfirth 0pts Honley 4pts, Hall Bower 0pts Kirkheaton 2pts, Thongsbridge 2pts Denby Dale 78-3 (20.0) 0pts, Kirkburton 145-2 (20.0) 4pts Emley Clarence 0pts, Cumberworth United 4pts Greenmoor Sports Club 0pts, Denby 4pts Lepton Highlanders 83-7 (16.0) 0pts, Kirkheaton 84-9 4pts Shepley 104-3 (20.0) 0pts, Almondbury Wesleyans 119-2 (20.0)
4pts Holmbridge 70 all out (19.3) 0pts, Honley 159-2 (20.0) 4pts Meltham 0pts, Armitage Bridge 4pts Scholes 98 all out (19.1) 4pts, Hall Bower 93-4 (20.0) 0pts Thongsbridge 76 all out (22.5) 0pts, Upperthong 77-0 (8.4)
4pts Barkisland 55-2 (8.0) 4pts, Marsden 54-9 (20.0) 0pts Golcar 109-5 (22) 0pts, Broad Oak 110-7 (20.2) 4pts Rastrick pts, Birkby Rose Hill 0pts Slaithwaite 109-5 (22) 4pts, Delph and Dobcross 82-8 (22)
(Revised Target 110 from 20.0) 0pts ■■The Under 13 fixture programme for Sunday will be an exact repeat of those games which were scheduled for Friday, July 28. Denby Dale ............................................ Shelley ...................................................... Cumberworth United ...................... Hoylandswaine ................................... Clayton West ........................................ Denby ........................................................ Skelmanthorpe ................................... Greenmoor Sports Club ................ Hall Bower .............................................. Delph and Dobcross ........................ Almondbury Wesleyans ................ Lepton Highlanders ......................... Emley Clarence ................................... Lascelles Hall ....................................... Rastrick .................................................... Kirkheaton .............................................