Moeen Ali smashed 14 boundaries during his 93-ball 84
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Moeen Ali starred with the bat at a crucial time for England on the fourth day against the West Indies at Headingley and struck a vital 84 to help set the tourists a target of 322 to win.
England were teetering on the edge of an unbelievable collapse when Roston Chase took three wickets in almost no time at all, but Moeen and Chris Woakes, who scored an unbeaten 61, kept the West Indies at bay and built a huge lead for England.
Starting off the day on 171/3, England captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan converted their 77-run partnership into a 118-run stand, during which Root registered his fifty.
See @root66's best moments from his second half-century of the match. LIVE: https://t.co/fRy3qe2eXQ pic.twitter.com/33z9KIYmgm
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 28, 2017
Despite pushing on after bringing up his half-century, Root was unable to reach the triple figure mark as he was caught by Shai Hope at gully off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel for 72, which came off 111 balls and included 15 boundaries.
Malan and Ben Stokes kept the runs flowing with a 91-run stand, during which both batsmen surpassed their fifties.
There aren't many better to watch than @benstokes38. LIVE: https://t.co/fRy3qe2eXQ pic.twitter.com/6CP1YGPG79
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 28, 2017
With England’s lead gradually beginning to swell, the West Indies needed a breakthrough, and it was ultimately provided when Stokes was brilliantly caught by Kraigg Brathwaite at long-off off the bowling of Chase for 58, which came off 108 deliveries and included 11 boundaries.
Chase struck again in his next over as he cleaned up Malan for 61, which came off 186 balls and included seven boundaries.
Chase continued to bring West Indies back into the game when he clean bowled England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for 18.
However, Moeen and Woakes halted the West Indies’ charge with their 117-run partnership, during which Moeen sailed past his half-century.
Mo has raced to 80 – can he make a ton? LIVE: https://t.co/fRy3qe2eXQ pic.twitter.com/Zk7vKMhu6j
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 28, 2017
With Moeen and Woakes scoring runs at a healthy rate and bolstering England’s lead, the West Indies began to lose their grip on the game.
In the end, Moeen was caught by Brathwaite at long-on off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo for 84, which came off 93 balls and included 14 boundaries.
Woakes and Stuart Broad added another 46 runs before England declared on 490/8, which set the West Indies a target of 322 to win.
Here are some of the best bits from @chriswoakes' innings. #EngvWI pic.twitter.com/tkEbmTBZSU
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 28, 2017
Woakes ended up making 61 off 104 balls, which included seven boundaries, while Broad struck a solitary boundary during his unbeaten knock of 14.
England’s 490/8 is the highest total they have made in Test cricket without any batsmen scoring a century.
Chase was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Gabriel and captain Jason Holder snapped up two wickets apiece. Bishoo, meanwhile, chipped in with one.
Chasing 322 to win, the West Indies scored five runs off the six overs they faced before stumps was called.
Brathwaite finished on four runs, while Kieran Powell remained undefeated on one.
The West Indies ended day four on 5/0 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.