Broad and Leach lead England to Ashes-levelling win

Captain Joe Root and veteran bowler Stuart Broad produced inspirational displays as England defeated Australia to draw the Ashes.

Published : Sep 15, 2019 23:05 IST

England clinched the fifth and final Ashes Test by 135 runs on Sunday.
England clinched the fifth and final Ashes Test by 135 runs on Sunday.
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England clinched the fifth and final Ashes Test by 135 runs on Sunday.

England clinched the fifth and final Ashes Test by 135 runs on Sunday to draw the series in a fine response to Australia retaining the urn.

Another Steve Smith masterclass saw the tourist move 2-1 in front at Old Trafford to ensure the Ashes would be heading back to Australia, yet it could not end an 18-year wait for a series win in England.

Joe Root's side dominated at the Oval this week and Australia scarcely looked like troubling the target of 399 it was set when the host was bowled out early on day four.

Stuart Broad was in excellent form and, as well as continuing to dominate against the openers, he got the crucial wicket of Smith for a relatively paltry 23.

That set Australia up for a long, hard chase and Matthew Wade did the heavy lifting with a knock of 117.

But Root joined Broad and Co. in the attack and got Wade himself, as well as seeing his calls in the field - questioned earlier in the series - rewarded with good use of the other bowlers at his disposal.

Australia was struggling simply to see out the day and Root made catches from consecutive balls, giving England victory in its final match under Cricket World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss.

 

The challenge was laid before the tourist after Tim Paine successfully reviewed a nick behind from Jofra Archer (3) and then Nathan Lyon got Jack Leach (9) to leave the big-hitting Broad (12) stranded.

Australia put on 18 for its best opening partnership of the series but Broad (4-62) intervened, uprooting Marcus Harris' (9) off stump and getting an edge to continue his hoodoo over David Warner (11).

England maintained control and Leach (4-49) and Jonny Bairstow combined to remove Marnus Labuschagne (14) before lunch, tempting the breakout Australia star out of his crease for the first stumping of the series.

It appeared for a time as though Smith would again prove resilient, yet he departed when attempting go round the corner from Broad and Stokes was on hand to make a two-handed grab, ending the outstanding batsman's run of 10 consecutive Ashes half-centuries.

England might have made further swift progress but for a number of near-misses bowling to Mitchell Marsh - including a no-ball dismissal when Chris Woakes overstepped - and a partnership of 63 with Wade saw Australia recover some ground.

But Root (2-26) sent himself into the attack and was quickly rewarded as Marsh pushed the England skipper to Buttler at short leg for a cheap wicket.

Root lost England's two reviews either side of tea when Jofra Archer was missing the wickets against Tim Paine and pitched outside leg to Wade, but then it was Australia's turn to waste an appeal.

Leach trapped Paine (21) in front and the delay in the umpire's call convinced the Australia skipper to unsuccessfully review.

 

Wade saw off a gruelling final Archer spell and brought up a brilliant second century of the series, before he escaped when dropped by Stokes off Root.

England had its tails up and Broad was the man to do the damage again, attracting a faint edge from Pat Cummins (9).

Wade had reviewed well when adjudged to have been caught in the slips off Root - UltraEdge showing the ball bounced out of the rough without touching his bat - but the England captain outmanoeuvred Australia's main threat by teeing Bairstow up for another stumping.

Root's men had the momentum and the skipper took a simple catch from Nathan Lyon off Leach, before executing a trickier effort from Josh Hazlewood from the following ball to seal victory and the first drawn series since 1972.

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