Moeen Ali : Top 5 bowling performances in Tests

Moeen Ali is currently one of the best all-rounders in Test cricket. Ali started his career as a left-handed batsman and a part-time off-spin bowler. He has played some brilliant knocks with the bat and performed equally well with the ball on a lot of occasions.

Ali who made his test debut in 2014 against Sri Lanka has played 51 test matches till date. He scored 2535 runs at an average of 32.50 with 5 centuries and 12 half-centuries. He has also picked up 138 wickets with an economy rate of 3.64.

On his day, he can spin a web and dismiss even some of the most feared batsmen. We look at his top 5 bowling performances in test cricket.

#5 5/69 vs South Africa, Old Trafford, 2017

England v South Africa

England hosted South Africa for a 4-matches test series in 2017. After the first three tests, the host were leading the series, 2-1. The South African came into the 4th test looking to win the test match and tie the series. Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat first. England were bowled out for 362. Jonny Bairstow top scored with 99 runs and missed out on a very well deserved century by 1 run. Rabada was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, picked up 4 wickets for 91 runs.

In reply, South Africa got all-out for only 226 runs, thanks to the Anderson-Broad duo who ripped through the SA batting line-up picking up 7 wickets for just 84 runs. England who managed to secure a 136-run first innings lead got all-out for 243 in their second innings setting up a target of 380 for the visitors.

This is when Moeen Ali came up alive as he picked up his 4th 5-wicket haul going for 5/69. Ali was adjudged the Man of the Match for his terrific performance with the ball and his blistering 75* off 66 with 9 fours and 3 sixes.

#4 5/63 vs India, The Rose Bowl, 2018

England v India: Specsavers 4th Test - Day Two

In the 2018 Pataudi Trophy, England were up 2-1 against India after three tests. India entered the game after winning the third test at Trent Bridge and were high on confidence. In the forth test, England won the toss and chose to bat first. England were restricted for a mere 246. Sam Curran shone for England scoring 78 off 136.

India came out to bat in their first innings and kept losing wickets in quick successions. For India, It was Pujara who stood tall and registered a very valuable century, scoring 132 off 257, giving India a first-innings lead of 27 runs. India who were looking comfortable at one point of time with 181-4 got annihilated by Ali who cleaned up the middle order with some terrific deliveries. Ali registered figures of 5/63.

This match will be remembered for Ali's terrific balls to dismiss Ashwin and Shami in two consecutive deliveries.

#3 5/57 vs Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2016

Bangladesh v England - Second Test: Day Three

England visited Bangladesh for a two-matches test series in 2016. The visitors won the first test by 22 runs in a thriller. In the second and the final test, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first. Moeen Ali spun a web and England got bundled all-out for just 220 runs. Barring Tamim Iqbal(104), no one in the team could get it going. Tamim and Haque built a 2nd wicket partnership of 170-runs and both of them were dismissed by Moeen Ali. He registered figures of 5/57.

The visitors who then came out to bat scored 244 and secured a 24-run first innings lead. Bangladesh came out to bat for the final time in the series and scored 296 setting a target of 273 for England. The English batsmen could not chase it down and faced an embarrassing defeat, losing by 108 runs, thanks to Hasan Miraz's 12-wickets in the game.

Bangladesh were able to draw the series 1-1 and Hasan Miraz won the Man of the Match as well as Player of the Series awards.

#2 6/67 vs India, The Rose Bowl, 2014

England v India

England played hosts for India in 2014 for the Pataudi Trophy. India were leading the series 1-0 after two tests and England entered the 3rd test looking to make comeback into the series. In the third test, Cook won the toss and chose to bat first. England made a huge first innings total of 569, on the back of centuries from its key players, Root and Ballance.

India scored 330 in reply to England's 569 and submitted a lead of 239 to the hosts. England in their second innings added 205 runs to the lead before they declared and set a target of 445 to India.

Moeen Ali rattled India in the second innings with 6/67 as India got all-out for just 178 runs. Ali cleaned up the tail without any delay. This match brought England back into the series who were down 0-1. They went on to win the fourth and fifth Tests quite comfortably and clinched the series 3-1.

#1 6/53 vs South Africa, Lord's, 2017

England v South Africa - 1st Investec Test: Day Four

In the 2017 4-test series against the visiting South Africa, Moeen Ali was awarded the Man of the Series for some crucial knocks with the bat and terrific performances with the ball. He proved why he is one of the best all-rounders in test cricket. In the first test, England won the toss and chose to bat first. England scored a very high total of 458, behind skipper Root's 190 off 234.

South Africa came out to bat and were dismissed all-out for 361. Moeen Ali came up alive with 4/59 in the first innings to wreck havoc. In the second innings, England made a total of 233 runs and set a target of 331 for the visitors.

Ali then ripped through the batting lineup and picked up 5 wickets for just 63 runs and registered his career-best figures. South Africa got bundled all-out for only 119. England won the test by 211 runs, jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the series. Moeen Ali was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning 9 wickets in the game.