Did Moeen Ali’s approach in the final over cost England the 5th T20I?

[Savak]

He played out two dot deliveries to outside the off stump yorkers. He knew what the bowler was going to try and do at that stage and could have planned a counter strategy of either going deep in the crease or stay outside the crease.

Even by playing the two yorkers out, he could have put pressure on the fielders and try to take two. Scoring 2 runs to each delivery would have netted 4 runs in total which is way better than 2 dot deliveries. A six of third delivery would have reduced the runs required to 7 of 3 deliveries which would have meant more pressure on the bowler, fielders and the fielding captain.

Overall i thought his approach of wanting to seek glory i.e. only sixes, boundaries as opposed to taking singles, two was very selfish and made a meal of a winnable match for England.

 

[IAJ]

He smashed a 50 and was the only batsman who showed real fight. It was brilliant bowling by Jamal.

 

[Rana]

Moeen is not to blame

Hales
Salt
Ducket

These three have been poor two games in a row!

 

[Bewal Express]

He played out two dot deliveries to outside the off stump yorkers. He knew what the bowler was going to try and do at that stage and could have planned a counter strategy of either going deep in the crease or stay outside the crease.

Even by playing the two yorkers out, he could have put pressure on the fielders and try to take two. Scoring 2 runs to each delivery would have netted 4 runs in total which is way better than 2 dot deliveries. A six of third delivery would have reduced the runs required to 7 of 3 deliveries which would have meant more pressure on the bowler, fielders and the fielding captain.

Overall i thought his approach of wanting to seek glory i.e. only sixes, boundaries as opposed to taking singles, two was very selfish and made a meal of a winnable match for England.

A top T20 would have finished the match. Moeen is a good player but lacks the finishers instinct

 

[cricketAXEpert]

He played out two dot deliveries to outside the off stump yorkers. He knew what the bowler was going to try and do at that stage and could have planned a counter strategy of either going deep in the crease or stay outside the crease.

Even by playing the two yorkers out, he could have put pressure on the fielders and try to take two. Scoring 2 runs to each delivery would have netted 4 runs in total which is way better than 2 dot deliveries. A six of third delivery would have reduced the runs required to 7 of 3 deliveries which would have meant more pressure on the bowler, fielders and the fielding captain.

Overall i thought his approach of wanting to seek glory i.e. only sixes, boundaries as opposed to taking singles, two was very selfish and made a meal of a winnable match for England.

He didn't wanted to take a single as he was the set batsman, but got outfoxed by some clever bowling. The debutant did a great job so many others would have panicked. Running 2s on consecutive balls is much harder than taking singles because the fielders are spread out and sometimes 2s are cut into singles by alert fielders. 16 needed off last over can go either way. On this pitch it was advantage bowling side.

 

[Suleiman]

Not selfish, he’s limited as a batsman. Needs something on middle or leg if he’s going to send it for six. He struggles to hit on the off side. Pakistani bowlers limited him by bowling to his weaknesses.

 

[James]

Moeen was the only England batsman who scored any runs. Can’t blame him for England losing. Other English batters should have turned up and given him some support, and England would have won easily. The England dismissals tonight for the most part were pretty abysmal.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Some seriously cringe batting by Moeen Ali in the final 2 overs. He refused to run 2's and did not make any adjustment to counter the predictable wide yorkers that the medium pacer newbie was bowling. He just kept digging out the yorkers like it was a Test match.

He is the reason that England was in the game and he is the reason they lost. Overall, a B- grade for him.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Not selfish, he’s limited as a batsman. Needs something on middle or leg if he’s going to send it for six. He struggles to hit on the off side. Pakistani bowlers limited him by bowling to his weaknesses.

For someone with so much experience in playing this format, that was a terrible display of finishing. If he is limited like that, then he has no business coming in at 5th and 6th down. He should only bat in Top 4.

 

[Snowflake]

Can't blame Moeen at all - the only English batsman that stood up.

He could've been a little bit more enterprising in the last few overs to deal with the yorkers, but I guess that's not his game

 

[Forum363]

Some seriously cringe batting by Moeen Ali in the final 2 overs. He refused to run 2's and did not make any adjustment to counter the predictable wide yorkers that the medium pacer newbie was bowling. He just kept digging out the yorkers like it was a Test match.

He is the reason that England was in the game and he is the reason they lost. Overall, a B- grade for him.

No one else on the other side was even able to stay out in the middle let alone score at the high run rate required in the last 5 overs.

Moeen realised it was him or no one. That’s not his fault. Had the others hit boundaries he would have rotated the strike more when he couldn’t hit the ball away.

 

[shaz619]

It was a great knock, very few are capable of playing that way. I think we should give the bowler more credit for his execution, brilliant death bowling

 

[shaz619]

For someone with so much experience in playing this format, that was a terrible display of finishing. If he is limited like that, then he has no business coming in at 5th and 6th down. He should only bat in Top 4.

He is more suited to the top order but there are youngsters who prefer those positions and he has given them the freedom of choice here to play close to their domestic positions and it also allows England to be flexible prior to the WC

 

[IMMY69]

Posters continuing to display their complete lack of knowledge of the game.

Without Moeen's innings England would have lost by 25-30 runs
In the last over he was never going to take the single and frankly any batter in his position that is worth their salt would have done exactly the same thing.

Before making idiotic threads, and others jumping on the band wagon, just think about the game for a second, the strike rates of each batsmen, the game situation etc etc.

 

[heddie19]

I don't think so. He tried his best imo.

 

[Liverpool_Faizan]

What he may have done is try to tickle it down beyond third man’s reach. Apart from that it’s hard to hit those balls

 

[sweep_shot]

Why wasn't Moeen taking single? That was baffling.

Willey can bat and hit sixes.

 

[PakLFC]

Moeen did all he could. It were his partner's who didn't turn it on. It was the wicket of the in form Ben Duckett that was the deciding factor not Moeen's performance.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Moeen is a clean hitter.

This was just exceptional bowling by Jamal!

Anyways, it is always so good to see Pakistani bowlers defending below par totals.

 

[MenInG]

Moeen: England batting was disappointing



Moeen Ali branded England's T20 batting a disappointment after they saw a second chase against Pakistan go off the rails in the space of four days.

Having failed to make 167 in Karachi on Sunday, the tourists lost track of an even slimmer target as they were unable to make 146 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

Moeen did his best to drag the result back with a captain's innings of 51 not out in 37 balls but he lost a last-over battle of wills with debutant seamer Aamer Jamal, who secured a five-run win for his side.

Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook made just 18 between them as the top six imploded, while Dawid Malan contributed a scratchy 36. Their efforts left Moeen frustrated by a lack of game awareness.

"Of all the games so far, this was the most disappointing, the way we batted in particular," Ali said.

"Obviously I'm disappointed we didn't chase those runs. I feel we're a better team than that. You have to see the situation of the game, and the conditions. All we needed was one partnership, a 60-70 run partnership would have won the game.

SKY

 

[introvert]

he should have trusted Willey who has 2 t20 hundreds to his name.

 

[Marooned]

Get a grip guys.

He wouldn't have been able to run 2, he would have run 1 and that would bring Willy on strike.

Apart from that, wide yorkers are literally impossible to hit unless you get lucky with an edge.

One mistake by Jamal and it would've ended in stands as it did once.

It was just very well bowled by Jamal.
It isn't about Moieen and I'm far from a Moieen fan.

 

[Robert]

I think Pakistan’s bowlers were responsible for England losing.

Beard did well to take the match to the last two balls.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I think Pakistan’s bowlers were responsible for England losing.

Beard did well to take the match to the last two balls.

Moeen hasn't progressed well enough to take England over the line after all these years. His batting talent is unquestionable and is a delight to watch him spank the ball so effortlessly. But he is still very much the batter whose runs as many as he can are considered a bonus. He needs to up his batting a notch and start taking his team over the line despite falling short in the end. This has been a trend with his batting.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I think Pakistan’s bowlers were responsible for England losing.

Beard did well to take the match to the last two balls.

But still just 139 with 3 wickets in hand is bizarre. Getting a spinner away with 4 an over is criminal. Atleast 6 an over should be possible.

 

[Energy]

He backed himself to hit 3 sixes off 6 deliveries. Couldn't do it.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

He looks miles better than anyone in the Pakistan middle order. If you contrast him with his equivalent in the Pak lineup, it would be Mohamed Nawaz, who is an ok spin bowler, but can be clobbered, and can hit the ball a long way, but will connect with the ball one in five times. Moeen is a proper batsman, that's the difference.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Having played all these years with Dhon, Moeen is yet to understand the psyche of last over bowler. For CSK Dhoni even at the age of 40 pulled off 20th over miracles.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Unless you are a Dhoni, you put bat to ball and don't deny strike to non-strikers in final over. Moeen Ali is good batsman, but he has his limits. Guess he took 'being captain, it's on me' a bit too seriously. Willey can hit the ball.

 

[IMMY69]

If any of the batters contributed in some way and England had won the game then some of the moronic posters here would be lauding Moeen's performance.

Its a fine line yet some people here think they can make something out of nothing.

Without Mooen's innings England would have lost by a much bigger margin and that is a fact.

 

[Forum363]

Unless you are a Dhoni, you put bat to ball and don't deny strike to non-strikers in final over. Moeen Ali is good batsman, but he has his limits. Guess he took 'being captain, it's on me' a bit too seriously. Willey can hit the ball.

Everyone else was failing around him. He had no choice.

Even the likes of Duckett and Brook couldn’t hit the ball out of the ground.

 

[Madplayer]

Strange comments from some of the posters here.

Learn to give credit to good bowling performances.

The other team (Pakistan) is there to compete as well.

You are making it sound like scoring 15 runs in the final over is a "done deal" for the chasing side. Especially against a team like Pakistan which produces good bowlers.

Moeen was the only one who showed up from England. Otherwise Pakistan would have won by 20-30 runs.

 

[in_cutter]

…now imagine the backlash if it was a Pakistani batsman…

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The biggest match loser for England yesterday was Adil Rashid with his bowling. It was not the easiest pitch for batting and the bowlers, especially spinners , had to step up. Pakistani spinners did. Adil didn't.

That's the biggest difference. Everything else is much of a muchness

 

[Titan24]

Jamal literally nailed the outside off stump Yorkers on 4 balls (The last ball which he bowled to Willey, he just wanted to give no extra in the form wide or no ball). Nothing most batsmen could have done, the only thing which could have been even attempted was a low probability shot in the form of a reverse scoop with the third man in circle maybe but, that wouldn't necessarily have gone for boundary as well.

I personally never agree with not taking the singles unless someone on the other side is a completely novice with the bat, Willey wasnt. Thats the only criticism that can be done on Moen.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Everyone else was failing around him. He had no choice.

Even the likes of Duckett and Brook couldn’t hit the ball out of the ground.

I am talking about last over specifically. Willey can hit, once you are at that stage you go for every run - unless you are the best finisher in the world. England could still have lost, but we will never know because Moeen tried to be a hero.

 

[Rana]

…now imagine the backlash if it was a Pakistani batsman…

Would any Pakistani batsman batting at 6 be 50* off 30 in the first place?

 

[Vorador]

Moeen is the reason England even had a chance in the final over. So nope.

 

[Smbhayi]

I am talking about last over specifically. Willey can hit, once you are at that stage you go for every run - unless you are the best finisher in the world. England could still have lost, but we will never know because Moeen tried to be a hero.

It done almost everyone by in the world.. Sanju did it twice in ipl when he had power hitter (who struggling to touch the ball) other end (and he lost both time too).. i think Pandya too done it recent which he able to finish off..

 

[ammar_merry]

Unless you are a Dhoni, you put bat to ball and don't deny strike to non-strikers in final over. Moeen Ali is good batsman, but he has his limits. Guess he took 'being captain, it's on me' a bit too seriously. Willey can hit the ball.

Anyone can stuggle against good bowling. Remember Dhoni and Yuvraj for all their greatness struggled against wide yorkers against srinlanka in t20 wc.

 

[alone1213]

LOL Indians are disappointed that Pakistan defended 146.
Pakistan have got wonderful bowling and they would have done it against other teams as well.

It's not a circus league where every Tom Dick and Harry can score in the last over for fun.

International cricket is way too difficult than these circus leagues.

Aamer Jamal executed his Yorkers so well.

Moeen was the reason England got close to the total.Moeen did phenomenal job. It's not like he had to score 7-8 runs. 15 is still huge score.

David Willey wouldn't have been able to do anything he couldn't score much in the previous match.

It's just Indians are undermining Pakistan's wonderful fast bowling talent.

 

[alone1213]

It done almost everyone by in the world.. Sanju did it twice in ipl when he had power hitter (who struggling to touch the ball) other end (and he lost both time too).. i think Pandya too done it recent which he able to finish off..

International cricket is not that tamasha league.
15 runs don't get chased down easily in international cricket.
Stop comparing that circus to international cricket.

 

[alone1213]

I think Pakistan’s bowlers were responsible for England losing.

Beard did well to take the match to the last two balls.

Hit the nail on the head. Moeen was the reason England got to the last ball. Pakistan bowlers were phenomenal.

 

[Forum363]

I am talking about last over specifically. Willey can hit, once you are at that stage you go for every run - unless you are the best finisher in the world. England could still have lost, but we will never know because Moeen tried to be a hero.

Well he had the last ball and failed. Mooen had a far higher chance of hitting a six than Willey as he is a specialist batsman and batting on 50+. It’s completely logical to turn down the single.

 

[Local.Dada]

Let’s just say Moeen has been a good ambassador on this tour so far

 

[Smbhayi]

International cricket is not that tamasha league.
15 runs don't get chased down easily in international cricket.
Stop comparing that circus to international cricket.

Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name, another circus winner in 2016 wt20 final .. it'll be difficult to chase 15+ in last over, be it domestic or international or even in gully cricket..

 

[shamaan]

I am talking about last over specifically. Willey can hit, once you are at that stage you go for every run - unless you are the best finisher in the world. England could still have lost, but we will never know because Moeen tried to be a hero.

Even in Pakistan innings Rizwan was reluctant to give strike to Wasim but then ended up taking it because wasim came half way down already for the single.

 

[shamaan]

Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name, another circus winner in 2016 wt20 final .. it'll be difficult to chase 15+ in last over, be it domestic or international or even in gully cricket..

Only if its Kumar then you can chase that down In the last over.

 

[shamaan]

I think it was right thing to reject the single Moeen was hitting the ball quite well but credit must be given to Jamal he excuted the yorkers perfectly.

 

[_Ace_]

Having played all these years with Dhon, Moeen is yet to understand the psyche of last over bowler. For CSK Dhoni even at the age of 40 pulled off 20th over miracles.

Unless you are a Dhoni, you put bat to ball and don't deny strike to non-strikers in final over. Moeen Ali is good batsman, but he has his limits. Guess he took 'being captain, it's on me' a bit too seriously. Willey can hit the ball.

Lol, what? As awesome as Dhoni was, and I'm a fan of his, he wouldn't have been able to do jack if a bowler is nailing the wide late swinging yorkers like that.

Case in point that infamous T20 world cup final against Sri Lanka, with Kulasekara and Malinga nailing those wide yorkers on that day, Dhoni wasn't able to do jack. Not just him in fact, but even a well set Kohli on the other end, in the middle of his player-of-the-tournament beastly form wasn't able to do anything at all about it.

The biggest match loser for England yesterday was Adil Rashid with his bowling. It was not the easiest pitch for batting and the bowlers, especially spinners , had to step up. Pakistani spinners did. Adil didn't.

That's the biggest difference. Everything else is much of a muchness

Concur with this analysis.

 

[Savak]

Lol, what? As awesome as Dhoni was, and I'm a fan of his, he wouldn't have been able to do jack if a bowler is nailing the wide late swinging yorkers like that.

Case in point that infamous T20 world cup final against Sri Lanka, with Kulasekara and Malinga nailing those wide yorkers on that day, Dhoni wasn't able to do jack. Not just him in fact, but even a well set Kohli on the other end, in the middle of his player-of-the-tournament beastly form wasn't able to do anything at all about it.



Concur with this analysis.

Kohli learnt from that experience and worked hard against that delivery in the nets. Since that match, I have seen he cleverly changes the face of the bat at the last minute and puts the ball in the gap on the off side between deep point and third man and usually scores boundaries of these deliveries.

A good batsman learns from experience and develops counter strategies.

 

[TheSultan]

Moeen played it perfectly till the last over and he got a good over. The ball that was slightly in the slot he smote for 6. Can’t blame him. Great innings

 

[MenInG]

Have England been ‘daft’ in last two matches?

Sky Sports Cricket's Mark Butcher…

"To throw away three wickets in the powerplay willy-nilly two games in a row when you are chasing modest totals is not very clever.

"I have no problem with teams going gung-ho from the very start but when you lose two wickets in the powerplay, you are probably better off building a partnership and then accelerating again.

"Everyone will tell you that the odds on you winning matches when you lose three wickets in the powerplay diminish significantly so [England’s approach] just seemed daft to me.

"There is no law saying you have to score a third of the runs in the powerplay every time. Sometimes you have to play the situation.”