Moeen over the moon as Cook ends two-year wait for a century

Moeen Ali was delighted after watching England captain Alastair Cook end his near twoyear wait for a Test hundred.

Cook’s 105 in the third Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown was vital for the team as wickets otherwise fell regularly in a first-day total of 240 for seven.

Cook was unable to see out the day, however, as his edge to Denesh Ramdin two balls into the final over from Marlon Samuels marked the end of play.

Moeen added: “It’s great for him to get 100 – just a shame he got out at the end.”

Cook was not the only batsman to impress, with Moeen compiling an excellent 58 before a stand of 98 with Cook, which helped England rebuild from 91 for four, was ended by a run-out mix-up.

“I think the situation of the game helped me,” he said. “I enjoy those situations where we’re struggling a little bit.

“It’s a shame I got run out again. Cookie hit it and I just didn’t think it was a one, but I trusted his call.”

Though Moeen raised the possibility of England pushing on to 350, even 300 would give them a fighting chance on a wicket offering encouragement to the bowlers.

Pacemen Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel took two wickets apiece but there was also help for Samuels and Veerasammy Permaul, which got Moeen interested.

“It spun a bit more than we expected and there was a bit of bounce as well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to bowling on it, I think it’s going to spin a bit more,” he added.

“It’s going to be a tough game – we probably lost two too many wickets but we’ve still got batsmen who can bat.”

Alistair Cook, left, celebrates scoring his century.