England thrash South Africa to clinch 3-1 series victory as Moeen Ali leads four-day demolition

England 362 & 243, South Africa 226 & 202: Moeen claims a second innings five-for as Hashim Amla's resilient batting display goes without support

England won inside four days to take the series (Getty)

​Moeen Ali might have been described as England’s “No 2 spinner” by coach Trevor Bayliss at the start of this series against South Africa but there is no doubt he has proved the difference between the teams over the course of these four Tests.

It was entirely fitting that it was Moeen who applied the finishing touch to England’s 177-run victory in this final Test, taking the wickets of Morne Morkel and Duanne Olivier in successive balls early on the fourth evening.

Earlier, during a spell of three wickets in 11 balls, he had broken a 123-run stand between Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plessis that had threatened to take this match into a fifth day.

In the end, though, England have delivered not only their first Test series win in more than a year but their first against South Africa at home since 1998.

Joe Root celebrated his first Test series win (Getty)

Given England’s recent inconsistency – they were annihilated at Trent Bridge by 340 runs little over a fortnight ago – and the fact the opposition are ranked No2 in the world, this 3-1 victory is a significant result in Joe Root’s first series as Test captain.

South Africa’s visits to these shores usually result in captains standing down, with Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain all falling on their swords during the Proteas’ tours of 2012, 2008 and 2003 respectively.

Yet Root emerges from these past few weeks emboldened by what his team have produced.

They are far from the finished article. But with the Ashes less than three months away, this feels like a watershed moment for England.

The same could be said of Moeen, who was rightly named man of the series after his five-wicket haul on the final day here. Overall, he has taken 25 wickets over the four Tests at an average of 15.64. That is a phenomenal return for a player who started the first Test with a minder in the form of Liam Dawson, who Bayliss admitted was picked as the “No 1 spinner” to take the pressure off Moeen.

Mooen Ali won man of the series for his excellent display with bat and ball (Getty)

That Bayliss uttered those words after Moeen had taken ten wickets in the opening Test at Lord’s was remarkable. Yet with Dawson dropped for the final two matches, pivotal victories here in Manchester and at The Oval, Moeen has proven once and for all he is the only spin option right now for England and a damn fine one at that.

His performances with the bat, too, have been productive as well, Moeen’s unbeaten 75 in England’s second innings taking his aggregate for the series to 252 at 36.

In terms of all-rounders, he might even be classed as England’s No1 as well - ahead of even Ben Stokes.

The hosts, powered by Moeen’s explosive unbeaten 67 from 59 balls the previous evening, were already 360 ahead when this fourth day began.

However, they added 19 more inside the 13 minutes it took Morkel to take the final two England wickets of Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Moeen Ali celebrates after taking the final wicket to secure England's fourth Test victory over South Africa (Getty)

That ended the phoney war, with the home side’s pursuit of the ten South African wickets needed for victory the real focus of the day.

A passing rain shower delayed the restart, but it didn’t take long for England to make inroads once the players got back on.

Dean Elgar, the culprit of two dropped catches the previous day, including Moeen on 15, ended a forgettable Test by edging Broad behind on five. South Africa, 10 for one in the fourth over, lost their second wicket when Heino Kuhn concluded his terrible series by diverting Anderson into the hands of Alastair Cook at second slip. He had made just 11.

Toby Roland-Jones then ensured South Africa went into lunch on 40 for three when he triggered a successful review for caught behind that dismissed Temba Bavuma with the final ball of the session.

Anderson celebrated having a stand named in his honour (Getty)

Amla and Du Plessis then dug in to frustrate England for much of an extended afternoon session.

Yet Moeen’s dismissal of Amla on 83, trapped lbw on review, was the breakthrough England had been craving. As has so often been the case during this series, it precipitated a clutter of wickets – with Moeen finding the edges of both Quinton De Kock and Theunis De Bruyn to send South Africa into tea on 182 for six.

Their resistance lasted fewer than eight overs after the interval as Anderson, brilliant in taking three for 16 in his 14 overs, had Rabada caught on the drive by Tom Westley.

Moeen then took over the spotlight to underline his undoubted quality. England are lucky to have him.