Moeen Ali was flamboyant yet destructive against Windies on his way to score the second fastest hundred in ODIs for an English batsman. Ali was hitting the ball fiercely throughout his innings though he shifted from 3rd gear to 6th in a jiffy while approaching the death overs. Ali scored 102 runs from 57 balls hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of 178.95. He scored his first 50 runs from 41 deliveries with a six off Miguel Cummins. Little did anyone know that Ali would score a century despite coming to bat in the 33rd over at the No.7 position.
Ali went on a six-hitting spree after reaching his 50. He scored his second 50 runs of his innings in a matter of just 12 balls, something similar to what Yuvraj Singh did in a T20 match against England. He struck 2 fours and 6 sixes after completing his 50 and destroyed the West Indies bowling lineup, taking England to a mammoth total of 369 for 9 in 50 overs.
Ali also pulled off a Hardik Pandya as the latter has been hitting a hat-trick of sixes quite often these days. Pandya has already done it four times in 2017. Ali, on the other hand, took on Windies skipper Jason Holder in the 46th over of the first innings.
Ali got the strike on the second ball of the over, he was rocking back into the crease and waited for the full-pitched delivery. He anticipated correctly. The ball was right in the slot and Ali put it away wide on for a maximum. He had no intentions of stopping. On the next ball, he targeted the long off boundary and sent the ball deep into the crowd.
Absolutely brilliant hitting here from @MoeenAli!
Live: https://t.co/Iokv5fMDti pic.twitter.com/PlPOd9BCk4
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 24, 2017
WOOOOOW! No words for @MoeenAli – he brings up his century from 56 balls!
Just 12 balls for his second 50! https://t.co/Iokv5fMDti pic.twitter.com/lSOAoyx3qz
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 24, 2017
It was pretty clear by then that Ali would go for another maximum and he did not disappoint. It was a loosener from Holder as he bowled a full toss, but Ali did not miss out on the opportunity and struck it over deep midwicket for third six in a row. Ali ended up scoring 24 runs from Holder’s over.
England ended up winning the match by a big margin of 124 runs as Windies batsmen struggled to keep their wickets intact with the exception of Chris Gayle who scored 94.
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