Ashes 2023: England win fifth Test; level series 2-2 as Stuart Broad signs off in style

Add as a preferred source on Google

Stuart Broad made a fairytale end to his cricket career as the pacer took the last two wickets in England's 49 runs over arch-rivals Australia to win the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2023. With the win, England levelled the series 2-2 on the final day of the match at The Oval on Monday.

With this, England has drawn the series 2-2. Australia has retained the Ashes urn, but they have not won it outright, something that they have not done since 2001 in England.

Australia's openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner continued to lay a dependable foundation for the big chase with an unbeaten stand after resuming their innings at 135/0, needing 249 more to win.

After the second session was washed out due to rain, Australia started the final session of the day at 238/3 with Steve Smith (40) and Travis Head (31) standing unbeaten at the crease, needing 146 runs to win.

Smith and Head continued to build pressure on England bowlers, with the visitors needing less than 150 runs to win. With help of a cracking boundary by Travis Head, Australia crossed the 250-run mark in 69 overs, needing 131 runs to win.
Smith reached his half-century in 89 balls.

The 95-run stand between Smith and Head was broken by Moeen Ali, when Head edged his delivery into the slips to Joe Root. The big wicket of Head was taken for 43 runs off 70 balls. Australia's half of side was back in the hut at 264 runs, needing 120 runs to win.

England made a comeback in the match, with Chris Woakes getting the prized wicket of Smith, who nicked the ball straight into the hands of Zak Crawley for 54. Later, Moeen dismissed the dangerous Mitchell Marsh for just six after being caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.

Woakes then in the next over got Mitchell Starc for a two-ball duck. The tides turned in favour of England, who had reduced Australia to 275/7 with 109 runs to go. Moeen's golden arm continued to do wonders for England, as skipper Pat Cummins was caught by England captain Ben Stokes at leg slip for nine.

Australia was 294/8 and needed 90 runs with two more wickets left. Australia reached the 300-run mark in 83.2 overs. Alex Carey and Todd Murphy continued the run chase, bringing down the equation to 55 runs to win.

But Stuart Broad helped England get back in the game, dismissing Murphy for 18 after he edged the ball to Bairstow. With this, England was one wicket away from drawing the series. Carey was Australia's last hope.

Broad completed a fairytale finish to his career, taking his final wicket, dismissing Carey for 28 after he was caught by Bairstow. Australia was all out for 334 runs, losing by 49 runs. Chris Woakes (4/50), Moeen Ali (3/76) were the pick of the bowlers for England. Stuart Broad took two wickets and Mark Wood got one wicket.

With inputs from ANI