During England's spirited second ODI clash against New Zealand in Southampton, the star all-rounder Moeen Ali scripted a special milestone as he clinched his 100th wicket in ODIs. This accomplishment placed Moeen in an elite list, becoming just the third spinner from England to reach this feat.
Demonstrating impeccable skill, Moeen showcased a commendable bowling spell, registering figures of 2/30 in a span of five overs. Maintaining an economy rate of 6.00, he was instrumental in dismissing the on-song all-rounder, Daryl Mitchell, and the talented Mitchell Santner.
Besides his prowess with the ball, Moeen's contribution to the scoreboard was evident with a swift 33 runs off 32 balls, adorned with three boundaries and a towering six.
Having now played 130 ODIs, Moeen's tally stands at 101 wickets, boasting an average of 49.20 and the best figures being an impressive 4/46. When it comes to spinners wearing the England jersey, only Graeme Swann, with 104 wickets from 79 matches, and Adil Rashid, having a hefty 184 wickets from 126 matches, have more ODI wickets than Moeen. While Adil Rashid secures the third position in England's list of most successful ODI bowlers, Moeen comfortably sits at the 14th spot. James Anderson, with a mammoth 269 wickets in 194 matches, remains the apex pacer and the most triumphant bowler for England in the ODI format.
Recapping the Southampton match, England's innings commenced with an unsettling start. Prolific pacer Trent Boult, making a return, rattled the top order, pushing England to a precarious 55/5. Captain Jos Buttler emerged as the sole beacon among the top five, scoring a quickfire 30. However, it was the partnership between Liam Livingstone and Moeen, followed by another significant alliance between Livingstone and Sam Curran, which propelled England to a fighting total of 226/7. New Zealand's bowling unit, spearheaded by Boult's 3/37, managed to keep things tight.
The Kiwis, tasked with chasing 227, suffered an early hiccup with their scoreboard reading 55/3. Despite a resilient half-century from Daryl Mitchell and brief partnerships, they collapsed to 147 all out in just 26.5 overs. For England, pacers Reece Topley and David Willey emerged as the standout performers, bagging three wickets each.
Evidently, Livingstone's all-round performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' accolade, highlighting an eventful day of cricket that celebrated both individual brilliance and team effort.
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