England vs Pakistan report: Moeen Ali records third Test hundred to prop up hosts' faltering top order

England 328 all out - Pakistan 3-1 (3.0)

Moeen Ali celebrates his third Test hundred (Getty)

Moeen Ali struck his third Test hundred in style to prop up England’s faltering top order on the opening day of this final Investec Test against Pakistan.

England were teetering on 110 for five when Moeen came to the crease early in the afternoon session and his runs kept Alastair Cook’s side in contention for a win that would see them seal this series 3-1.

There is much work for England’s bowlers to do on the second day of this match despite the fact they managed to see off Sami Aslam, trapped lbw by Stuart Broad, in the three overs Pakistan batted at the end of this first day.

The tourists reached stumps on three for one and Moeen’s hundred, brought up with a magnificent six off leg-spinner Yasir Shah, has given the home attack something to bowl at against a Pakistan batting line-up that always seems likely to fold under pressure.

That’s exactly what they did on the final day of the third Test at Edgbaston.

And England will be buoyed by the fact they still won that contest despite scoring fewer first-innings runs – 297 to be precise – than they did here.

England had started this match with the knowledge that victory could see them return to No1 in the Test rankings for the first time since 2012.

The pursuit of victory was aided by Cook’s correct call at the toss, England’s captain choosing to bat first despite leaden skies above The Oval that suggested bowling might be a good option.

Pakistan, chastened by their final-day defeat at Edgbaston, had made two changes to their team, batsman Iftikhar Ahmed coming in for out-of-form opener Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz replacing fellow left-arm seamer Rahat Ali.


 Alex Hales responds to his controversial dismissal 
 (Getty)

Wahab’s recall appeared inspired as he helped cut through England’s top order in the morning.

His danger and liking of a bouncy Oval pitch became apparent when he first had Cook dropped on 34 by Iftikhar at first slip.

By then England had already lost Alex Hales, the opener the victim of a contentious catch by Yasir Shah at square leg after he had clipped Mohammad Amir nonchalantly off his legs.

Although both on-field umpires went upstairs to check because they could not be sure of the validity of the catch, they signalled they thought it was good and so inconclusive TV replays condemned Hales on six.

England were 23 for one and that became 69 for two when Cook, who added just two runs to his score following his earlier let-off, played Sohail Khan onto his own stumps.

That was the start of a mini-collapse that saw England lose three wickets for five runs in 15 balls.

Wahab was the inspiration behind that implosion, Joe Root edging him behind on 26 before James Vince, the victim of a beautifully brutal delivery, did likewise.

At 74 for four, Cook’s decision to bat first looked questionable.

Gary Ballance became Wahab’s third victim early in the afternoon session when he pushed the Pakistani to third slip as England slipped to 110 for five.

However, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen stabilised the innings with a 93-run stand that at times led a charmed life.

Wahab had Bairstow caught at point in the second over after lunch – only to see the wicket chalked off for a no-ball.

Joe Root endured a frustrating afternoon (Getty)

Moeen was also dropped on nine off Amir by Azhar Ali at third slip, the bowler’s frustration apparent by his wild kick at the turf following that let-off.

Both batsmen went on to pass 50 to guide England to 200 for five at tea.

Bairstow, though, fell for 55 in the third over after tea, via an inside edge to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, to reduce England to 203 for six.

That dismissal brought Chris Woakes to the crease and the all-rounder counter-attacked superbly alongside Moeen to revive England’s innings.

The seventh-wicket partnership was worth 79 in just 85 balls before Woakes, who made 45 from 57 deliveries, edged Sohail behind.

Broad was out lbw to Sohail two balls later for a duck, England losing their eighth wicket with 282 runs on the board.

Steven Finn, known as the Watford Wall for his defiant batting on the 2013 tour of New Zealand, put on 14 with Moeen before he was bowled to become Sohail’s fourth wicket.

With Enaland on 296 for nine and Moeen still 11 runs short of his hundred, a lot rested on James Anderson’s ability to stick with his team-mate.

Moeen rotated the strike well to protect Anderson and help England past 300 before bringing up his century, in 140 balls, with a towering six off Yasir’s leg-spin over midwicket.

Sohail, taking his second five-wicket haul in Tests, eventually dismissed Moeen for 108, Yasir the catcher in the deep, to conclude England’s innings.

It left Pakistan’s openers needing to negotiate a tricky 10-minute period before the close and Broad ensured they would not come through that unscathed as England ended the day on the front foot.