Twitter reacts to Moeen Ali's magnificent hat-trick to conclude the Test

England now have a 2-1 lead in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, after comprehensively beating them by 239 runs in the third Test at The Oval. The visitors were set a target of 492 to win. After all-rounder Ben Stokes sparkled with his two wickets in two balls, it was a terrific show by Moeen Ali, that ripped apart the Proteas’ batting line-up. The tourists were already out of the game reeling at 252/8, and then began the assault from Ali, who ranks fourth on ICC’s list of the best all-rounders, a point ahead of his teammate Stokes.

Stokes took two brilliant slip catches for the offie to help him complete a hat-trick, which is the first by an England spinner since Tom Goddard in 1938-39. Also, this is the first hat-trick at the Oval in the past 100 Tests. The off-spinner’s first victim was Dean Elgar, who was caught at slip by Stokes when he was on 139. A replay of how he got out in the first innings. It was a fuller ball outside the off stump, Elgar went forward and tried to drive it, but the ball took the edge and was pouched by Stokes.

The second victim was Kagiso Rabada who was dismissed in a similar fashion as Elgar. And the third one was Morne Morkel, who was trapped leg before wicket, umpire Aleem Dar didn’t think it would go on to hit the stumps but England had nothing to lose and Ali on his hat-trick ball looked certain that was going to hit. Dar had to reverse his decision and the dramatic day of Test cricket ended in a fitting fashion.

Moeen figures for the innings were 4/45 as South Africa were bowled out for 252. The fourth Test will be played at the Old Trafford on Friday. If South Africa lose the last match, it will be their first series defeat in England since 1998. For Joe Root, this is the first assignment as the captain and he will be eager to win the fourth Test as well. Both all-rounders Ben Stokes and Ali have played crucial parts in England’s campaign in most tournaments and series’ they have played across formats, and the two will also be crucial to Root’s victory in his maiden assignment as the skipper.

Here are some of the best tweets celebrating Moeen Ali’s hat-trick

Mooen Ali is the 13th England bowler – and 4th spinner – to snaffle a hat-trick in Test cricket. #ENGvSA @MoeenAli

— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 31, 2017

Moeen takes first ever Test hatttick at The Oval

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) July 31, 2017

✅ First Test hat-trick at the Oval
✅ First English spinner to take a hat-trick since 1938/39

Moeen Ali, take a bow ? pic.twitter.com/2zpdFfdoFU

— BT Sport Cricket (@btsportcricket) July 31, 2017

What a way to end a Test Match!! Hatrickk!!! Great win for @root66 and @englandcricket !! #ENGvSA #100thTest ?

— Sarah Taylor (@Sarah_Taylor30) July 31, 2017

YESSSS!! HAT-TRICK for @MoeenAli and we win by 239 runs! #ENGvSAhttps://t.co/a0qhO1p3jy pic.twitter.com/3vIKblgg5B

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 31, 2017

Moeen Ali becomes England's 13th bowler & 14th Test hat-trick!
Eng hat-tricks by spinners
W Bates 1883
J Briggs 1892
T Goddard 1938#EngvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 31, 2017

Moeen Ali takes hat trick and England spinner takes hat trick after 79 years in Test Cricket..

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) July 31, 2017

You are amazing @MoeenAli ! Watching from Sri Lanka! "Great hattrick!" Says my son and nephews.

— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 31, 2017

Moeen Ali becomes the first England spinner to take a hat-trick since 1938-39. #ENGvsSA pic.twitter.com/ArpZL9qshs

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 31, 2017

so far Moeen Ali has taken 18 wickets @ 14.72 in this series…#ENGvSA

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) July 31, 2017

This is the first Test hat-trick at The Oval.. and it has come in the 100th Test at the venue ! #ENGvSA

— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 31, 2017