Moeen Ali hails 'perfect' England display vs Sri Lanka after Test-best 155 not out - 'I owed the team'

Ali turned in a superb batting display on Saturday.
Stu Forster/Getty Images

Moeen Ali hopes he has repaid England’s faith in him after his best Test score put the team in control against Sri Lanka.

The all-rounder made 155 not out – his second Test hundred – after he was dropped on 36, helping England pile up 498 for nine declared.

Moeen then watched England’s seam bowlers dismantle the Sri Lanka batting line-up for the third time in a week. Both Chris Woakes – the replacement for the injured Ben Stokes – and Stuart Broad took three wickets apiece, with Jimmy Anderson claiming the other two as Sri Lanka finished 91 for eight.

“It was perfect, especially the way we bowled,” Moeen told Sky Sports. “To have them eight down is a brilliant evening. I think if we could get the final two wickets quickly, we would make them follow on and try to bowl them out again.

“It’s about time I got some runs. I felt like I owed the team. Today was a great feeling.”

Moeen had been promoted from No. 8 to No. 7 due to Stokes’ injury and justified the team’s faith with his first Test ton in nearly two years. His maiden one, also against Sri Lanka, came at Headingley in a losing cause in 2014.

It would be a huge surprise were his efforts in vain again. Moeen has received criticism for some soft dismissals but he has also been unable to settle into a spot.

Having started at No. 6, Moeen was then pushed down to No. 8 before being asked to open the batting against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last autumn. He then found himself at No. 8 again for the winter tour of South Africa.

Moeen added: “I like playing with freedom so, if I see it, I go for it. My offside play is a strength and a weakness, so I will keep playing that way. I enjoy batting at No. 6, but batting at No. 8 hasn’t fazed me. I have to get scores if I want to go up the order.”

Meanwhile, Rangana Herath cast doubt on his side’s ability to make England bat again. They need 208 more runs over their two innings to do so.

“I don’t know if we can,” he admitted, before reflecting on a rare moment of joy for Sri Lanka today – Herath’s 300th Test wicket.

He added: “As an individual this is a big achievement, so I say thank you to all the people who have supported me, especially my team-mates.”

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