England destroy South Africa by 177 runs to win Fourth Test and clinch series 3-1 with Moeen Ali starring in Old Trafford rout
Joe Root's men always looked in control during final Test with Moeen getting two in his final two balls to seal skipper's win in his first series in charge
MOEEN ALI was once again England’s hero as he helped wrap up a 3-1 series victory over South Africa.
The all-rounder claimed 5-69 to roll the Proteas for 202 and win the Fourth Test by 177 runs.
And it meant Moeen finished the series with an incredible 25 wickets, to go with the 252 runs he plundered with the bat.
Hashim Amla and South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis had actually threatened to delay what looked an inevitable win on the fourth day at Old Trafford with a fourth-wicket stand of 123.
But once Amla fell lbw to Moeen for 83, the rest of Proteas crumbled.
Jimmy Anderson also claimed figures of 3-16 – to take his own series tally to 20.
Yet Moeen, who finished the game at the Oval with a hat-trick, was again the man who sealed things here – this time with two in two balls.
England had earlier been dismissed for 243 in their second innings, with Moeen not out on 75.
It meant South Africa were left needing a mammoth total of 380 to claim a shock win and level the series.
But it never looked likely as soon as Stuart Broad had Dean Elgar caught behind for five.
The out-of-sorts Heino Kuhn was the next to fall to Anderson for 11, before Toby Roland-Jones dismissed Temba Bavuma for 12.
Then after Amla and Du Plessis’ resistance after lunch, the Proteas lost their last seven wickets for just 63 runs.
Anderson claimed the wickets of Du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada, while Moeen dimissed Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn and then No10 Morne Morkel and No11 Duanne Olivier in consecutive balls.
