Moeen Ali's 3 best performances for CSK in the IPL
England and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Moeen Ali is celebrating his 37th birthday on Tuesday, June 18. The versatile cricketer has been among England's most efficient players across formats over the last decade.
Moeen, who came out of Test retirement for Ashes 2023 and confirmed his retired after the series, played 68 matches for England in the red-ball format. He scored 3,094 runs at an average of 28.12, with five hundreds and 15 fifties. With his off-spin, he claimed 204 wickets with the aid of five five-wicket hauls.
In the one-day format, he has 2,355 runs from 138 matches and has also claimed 111 scalps. As for T20Is, Moeen has played 88 games, scoring 1,199 runs at a strike rate of 143.93 and has picked up 49 wickets at an economy rate of 8.32.
Looking at his performance for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, he has notched up 853 runs from 40 innings at a strike rate of 136.26, with three half-centuries. With his off-spin, he has claimed 25 scalps at an average of 23.40 and an economy rate of 7.03.
On the occasion of his 37th birthday, we look back at Moeen's three best performances for CSK in the IPL.
#3 (3-7 & 26 off 20) vs RR in Mumbai, IPL 2021
Moeen was named Player of the Match for his brilliant figures of 3-7 from three overs as Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 45 runs in match number 12 of IPL 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Defending a target of 189, CSK held RR to 143-9.
Moeen came into the attack in the 13th over of Rajasthan's innings. He got a big wicket in his first over itself, trapping David Miller (2) leg before with a fuller delivery as the left-handed batter missed his attempted sweep.
With the first ball of his next over, the CSK off-spinner dismissed Riyan Parag (3), who mistimed a tossed-up delivery to deep midwicket. Moeen has his second in the over and third in the innings when Chris Morris (0) also miscued a big hit towards deep midwicket. The wicket left RR in all sorts of trouble at 95-7.
Before his heroics with the ball, Moeen chipped in with the bat as well. Coming in at No. 3, he contributed 26 off 20, with the aid of one four and two sixes. His cameo ended when he mistimed a googly off Rahul Tewatia.
#2 (93 off 57 & 1-21) vs RR in Mumbai, IPL 2022
Moeen came up with another fantastic performance against Rajasthan Royals during the IPL 2022 edition. He slammed 93 off only 57 balls and claimed 1-21 in match number 68 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The versatile cricketer's effort, though, went in vain as Rajasthan won the contest by five wickets.
Batting first, CSK were held to 150-6, 93 of those runs coming from Moeen's bat. The England left-hander clobbered 13 fours and three sixes in what was a one-man show as far as Chennai's batting in the match was concerned. He went after Prasidh Krishna in the fourth over, clubbing him for three fours and a six.
In the next over bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin, he slammed two fours and a six. Moeen was sensational against Trent Boult in the last over of the powerplay, clobbering him for a six and five consecutive fours. CSK, however, kept losing wickets at the other end and Moeen's innings also lost sting in the second half.
With the ball, Moeen gave away only 21 runs in his four overs. He got the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal (3), cleaning up the RR batter with a flighted delivery as the left-hander attempted a sweep. Rajasthan, however, chased the target in 19.4 overs.
#1 (4-26) vs LSG in Chennai, IPL 2023
In a high-scoring clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during IPL 2023, Moeen's spell of 4-26 made the big difference. Sent into bat, CSK put up 217-7 on the board in their 20 overs in match number six. In response, LSG were held 205-7.
Lucknow Super Giants got off to a confident start in the chase, but it was Moeen who broke the opening stand of 79, dismissing the dangerous Kyle Mayers for 53 off 22 balls. Mayers attempted to slog sweep a full delivery, but ended up being caught at deep midwicket.
LSG skipper KL Rahul (20 off 18) was Moeen's second victim. The right-handed batter also attempted to slog sweep a fullish ball, but failed to get his timing right and was caught inside the ropes. The wily CSK off-spinner then outfoxed Krunal Pandya (9) with another fullish ball, which the left-hander could not time properly.
Moeen picked up his fourth wicket when he cleaned up Marcus Stoinis (21 off 18). The Lucknow Super Giants batter attempted to heave a good length delivery, but the ball spun back and knocked the leg stump. Stoinis' dismissal left LSG in trouble at 130-5 in the 14th over. Despite some fight from the lower order, they fell short of Chennai Super Kings' total.