England’s dynamic all-rounder, Moeen Ali, achieved a significant milestone in One Day International (ODI) cricket in a remarkable feat. On a memorable Sunday in Southampton, Moeen became only the third spinner from England to reach the coveted milestone of 100 ODI wickets.
Moeen Ali’s historic journey to 100 ODI wickets unfolded during England’s second ODI against New Zealand. The spinner showcased his bowling prowess as he scalped 2 crucial wickets while conceding just 30 runs in his five-over spell, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 6.00. His victims included the in-form all-rounder Daryl Mitchell and the talented Mitchell Santner.
Moeen Ali isn’t just a formidable bowler; he’s also a handy contributor with the bat. In the same match, he wielded his willow to score 33 runs from 32 balls, embellishing his innings with three boundaries and a towering six. This dual ability as a bowler and a batsman makes Moeen a valuable asset for the English cricket team.
Moeen Ali has featured in 130 ODIs for England, and his journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He has claimed 101 wickets at an average of 49.20, with his best bowling figures being an impressive 4/46. This places him in an elite club of England spinners who have achieved the milestone of 100 ODI wickets.
While Moeen Ali’s achievement is commendable, two other spinners from England have achieved greater heights in ODI cricket. With 104 wickets in 79 matches, Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid stand as England’s spin-bowling legends with a whopping 184 wickets in 126 matches. Adil Rashid, in particular, is considered England’s third most successful ODI bowler of all time.
James Anderson is the pinnacle of success in the broader context of England’s ODI bowling legacy. The pace spearhead has amassed an astounding 269 wickets in 194 matches, making him England’s most successful ODI bowler.
Turning our attention to the match where this historic achievement occurred, England faced a challenging situation early on. They were reduced to 55/5 by the expert bowling of Trent Boult, who returned to the squad. Captain Jos Buttler played a crucial innings of 30 from 25 balls. Still, the partnership between Liam Livingstone (48) and Moeen Ali (33) helped England reach a respectable total of 226/7 in their 50 overs.
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In response, New Zealand’s chase proved challenging, with the team losing wickets regularly. Daryl Mitchell (57) put up a valiant fight, but England’s bowlers, led by Reece Topley (3/27) and David Willey (3/34), were relentless. New Zealand was eventually bowled out for 147 in 26.5 overs, handing England a convincing victory.
Liam Livingstone’s impactful performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
