Dream debut of Captain Root, Moeen’s magic
England: Joe Root led England to a long-awaited home series win over the Proteas in his first assignment as captain.
Root has been showing his class in batting for long like Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Ken Williamson and AB de Villiers. This series has given a new dimension to his captaincy. Like Smith, Kohli, Williamson and AB de, Root also showed his class beating South African by 9-1 in test series.
The young English captain started his captaincy with victory.
In that match, Moeen Ali claimed five wickets as England completed a 177-run win over South Africa in the fourth Test at Old Trafford to seal a 3-1 series victory.
The Proteas, chasing an unlikely 380, were bowled out for 202, with James Anderson also picking up 3-16.
England were held up by Hashim Amla, who made 83, but after he was dismissed they lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs.
It is England's first home Test series win against South Africa since 1998.
More Moeen magic
Moeen had blasted a thrilling 67 on the third evening and was left unbeaten on 75 as England lost their final two wickets to be bowled out in their second innings for 243.
After Anderson, Stuart Broad and Toby Roland-Jones took a wicket apiece, Moeen was asked to wheel away with his off-spin, only to be thwarted by the imperious Amla.
But, when he switched ends, he trapped Amla leg before and worked through the rest of the South Africa line-up.
Quinton de Kock played a loose drive to slash to gully and Theinus de Bruyn tamely edged to slip.
Moeen ended the third Test at The Oval with a hat-trick and closed this match with two wickets in two balls—Morne Morkel holed out to mid-off and Duanne Olivier nicked to slip.
Moeen is the first man to take 25 wickets and score more than 250 runs in a four-match Test series.

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