Sunday, October 23rd, 2016

Two Crucial Wickets For Moeen As Test Heads For Thrilling Finale

Two Crucial Wickets For Moeen As Test Heads For Thrilling Finale

Moeen Ali picked up the key wickets of Tamin Iqbal and Shakib Al Hassan as the first Test between England and Bangladesh in Chittagong heads for a thrilling climax.

The Worcestershire all-rounder followed up his 82 runs plus three wickets in the first innings with another important contribution.

Bangladesh will resume tomorrow on 253-8 in their second innings needing another 33 for victory.

Moeen shared the new ball with his ex County team mate and fellow spinner Gareth Batty after England had been bowled out for 240 in their second innings.

England reviewed an appeal for a catch at second slip to dismiss Iqbal in Moeen's fifth over but DRS showed there had been no contact with the bat.

But the very next delivery accounted for the player who had top-scored with 78 in Bangladesh's first innings.

Iqbal (9) was undone by a ball which turned and bounced and flicked off the pad to Gary Ballance who took a sharp catch at short leg with 35 on the board.

Moeen was brought back into the attack at 138-4 in the 40th over and in his first over dismissed ex New Road colleague Shakib for the second time in the game.

Shakib (24) pushed forward to a well flighted delivery and Jonny Bairstow held onto the catch behind the stumps.

Moeen ended the day with figures of 2-60 from 14 overs.

Batty (3-65) and Stuart Broad, with two late wickets in an elongated spell in the humid conditions, were the other main wicket-takers.