Moeen Ali’s fine century helped England recover to post 328 on an entertaining opening day in the final Test against Pakistan at The Oval Thursday.
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Moeen Ali insists that he “wasn’t fazed” after being hit on the head during the final Test between England and Pakistan.
Wahab Riaz had reduced the home side to 110 for five when he and Jonny Bairstow began another of the fix jobs for which they are becoming famous.
In flawless batting conditions on a bright sunny day, the touring side lost only the wicket of nightwatchman Yasir Shah as they bid for a victory that would level the series at 2-2. England were 92-4 at Lunch with Alex Hales, Alastair Cook, James Vince and Joe Root all back in the pavilion.
Sohail ended with 5 for 68, his second five-wicket innings haul in as many Tests.
Earlier, Cook won the toss and elected to bat on an overcast morning in south London.
Meanwhile Jonny Bairstow, who eventually made 55, was caught off a Wahab Riaz no-ball – one of seven in the innings from the recalled left-arm quick – on 13.
Younis has had a lean series with just 122 runs in six innings.
England were 69 for 1 when Cook (35) played on after under-edging a pull off Sohail. Wahab took 3 wickets for 93 runs. This could mean benching the woefully out-of-form opener Mohammad Hafeez in place of either spinner Zulfiqar Babar or fast bowler Wahab Riaz.
The Pakistan pace bowler looked unsafe from his first ball, his express pace and good control would have made him a threat to any batsman, never mind a top order under extreme pressure. He was then dropped on nine by Azhar Ali at third slip, off Mohammad Amir, who kicked the ground in fury.
Moeen Ali celebrates his terrific century.
It was another good catch by Sarfraz, an aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman whose sharp glovework this series has stood in stark contrast to Bairstow’s struggles behind the stumps. Chris Woakes fell five runs short of his own third Test half-ton when he tickled the faintest of edges behind.
The pair took 17 off one Wahab over after tea, as Woakes toyed with Misbah-ul-Haq, finding gaps for three consecutive boundaries through a packed off-side field to the exasperation of the Pakistan skipper.
But Sohail took two wickets in three balls, Woakes caught behind when DRS marginally upheld Oxenford’s decision and the umpire vindicated again as Stuart Broad went lbw.
With Moeen stroking his way to a century he rated as the best of his career to date – the standing ovation he received on bringing up his century with a six suggested spectators at The Oval agreed – and England finishing with a total only 50 or so under par, the England management could fool themselves into concluding that all is well with this team.
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But last man James Anderson stuck in for long enough to allow Ali to go to a third hundred in 30 career Tests in style by dancing down the pitch and lofting leg-spinner Shah for six high over mid-wicket.
