Moeen nudges selectors with historic Worcestershire haul
Moeen Ali became only the second Worcestershire player to score a double hundred and take five wickets or more in an innings as his side completed their second Specsavers County Championship win of the season yesterday.
Worcestershire had little trouble taking the four wickets needed for an important Division One victory during the fourth morning against Yorkshire at Scarborough. In the process, Moeen boosted his claims for a recall to the England team for the fourth Test against India.
Yorkshire started their second innings 356 runs in arrears and resumed on day four at 140 for six. They were bowled out for 170 inside 40 minutes of play.
Moeen enjoyed a stunning week, taking two wickets with his off-spin in the first innings before hitting a brilliant 219 with the bat as the visitors amassed 572 for seven declared in reply to 216.
He then struck four times at the start of Yorkshire’s second innings on day three and added two of the last four to fall, finishing with six for 49 from 23 overs. His match figures were eight for 89.
The only other Worcestershire player to have scored a double hundred and taken more than five wickets in an innings in the same Championship match was Ted Arnold, against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1909. Arnold scored 200 not out and added seven for 44 in the second innings. He took 10 wickets in the match.
Yorkshire all-rounder David Willey said: “It’s been a difficult week. Sometimes you have to take your hat off and say, ‘we’ve been outplayed’. That’s probably been the case this week. Moeen Ali played exceptionally well with bat and ball, and that’s why he’s doing what he’s doing at international level.”
Moeen bowled Willey and had Matthew Fisher caught behind within the space of four balls in the 56th over, the fourth of the morning, as Yorkshire fell to 149 for eight. His chances of 10 in the match were ended by the impressive seamer Dillon Pennington, who bowled Jack Brooks. Pennington then had Josh Poysden caught at second slip to wrap up the win.