Friday, January 31st, 2020

MOEEN BACK WITH FIVE OVER SPELL IN ENGLAND VICTORY

MOEEN BACK WITH FIVE OVER SPELL IN ENGLAND VICTORY

Moeen Ali made his first England appearance for five months and bowled a tidy spell in the 77 run win over a South Africa Invitational X1 at Paarl today.

The Worcestershire all-rounder sent down five overs for just 16 runs as the hosts were bowled out for 163 in 38.4 overs.

Moeen was the seventh bowler used and was brought into the England attack for the 26th over.

The 32-year-old bowled his five overs in one spell and did not concede a boundary.

It was his first appearance for England since the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston last summer.

Moeen did not have an opportunity to bat as England totalled 240 all out in a match utilising the whole squad.

Opener Jason Roy hit 104 off 99 balls and rescuing his side from 16-3.

He added 79 with Joe Denly (29) for the fourth wicket and 50 with Chris Woakes for the seventh.

Woakes, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan and Matt Parkinson all picked up two wickets.

Moeen and England will face a South African X1 in another warm-up game for the forthcoming series with the Proteas at the same venue tomorrow.