Moeen assault gives England control

Moeen Ali's exhilarating 84 put England in a position from where it can push for a final-day victory over Windies in the second Test match at Headingley.

Despite losing three quick wickets before the tea, Moeen, along with Chris Woakes (61*) helped England declare on 490 for 8 to set Windies a stiff target of 322.

At stumps on Monday (August 28), Windies was five without loss in six overs with Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on four and Kieran Powell on one.

England resumed the day on 171 for 3, a lead of only two runs, after Windies had made 427 in its first innings which saw hundreds from Shai Hope (147) and Brathwaite (134).

Joe Root and Dawid Malan, the overnight batsmen, continued from where they left off. The two batted with patience before Root clipped Shannon Gabriel past mid-on for a boundary to bring up a 100-run stand in 162 deliveries.

The England captain, who scored a controlled 59 in the first innings, went on to complete his second fifty of the match. His first innings had seen him equal AB de Villiers’s record of scoring half-centuries in 12 Tests in a row.

Windies finally got the breakthrough in the 69th over when Root, in search of slapping Gabriel past point, steered the ball straight into the hands of Shai Hope at gully. Root smashed 15 boundaries en route to 111-ball 72.

Stokes, who scored 100 in the first innings, smacked 11 boundaries before lofting Chase straight to long-off to bring down the curtains on well-made 58. While the bowlers bowled their heart out, it was Windies’ fielding that let it down. It was also unfortunate when Moeen was caught behind off Devendra Bishoo when on 32, only for the umpire to rule it a no-ball.

Malan, who eventually made 61, was earlier dropped by Powell when on 32.

At one stage, the home side was reduced to 327 for 7 after Jonny Bairstow was knocked over for just 18 - giving Chase his third wicket. But Windies' hope of a revival was put to rest when Moeen and Woakes took the attack to the bowlers.

Moeen in particular batted with the strike-rate above 90 and added 117 runs for the eighth wicket with Woakes. After Bishoo got rid of Moeen, Stuart Broad (14*) put on an unbeaten 46-run stand with Woakes to take England's lead past 300.

England leads the three-match series 1-0 after its innings-and 209-run win in the first Test at Edgbaston.