England welcomed an 135-run victory on day four of the fifth and final Ashes series Test at The Oval in London on Sunday.
The result squared the 2019 series 2-2. Australia, who won the 2017-18 series, retained the Ashes title on the back of last week’s triumph in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Resuming on 313-8 overnight, England’s second innings ended on 329 all out, leaving the tourists a target of 399.
Opener David Warner’s poor stretch of form continued, as the Aussies’ pursuit slipped to 148-5 – and eventually 263 all out. Warner managed a mere 95 runs in 10 innings this series, which included eight single-figure scores.
The prolific Steven Smith endured a rare failure, falling for 23 to end a lengthy stretch 10 successive scores of 70 or more against England in Test match cricket. Middle-order batsman Matthew Wade welcomed a fine century, which included a particularly heated tussle with fast bowler Jofra Archer. Wade eventually perished for a Test career-high 117 – seven more than a previous-best 110 struck against the same opposition earlier this series.
The veteran Stuart Broad starred on Sunday, characteristically dismissing Warner and later Smith to become England’s leading wicket-taker this series. His role was especialliy important throughout in the absence of fellow new-ball bowler James Anderson, who was sidelined from the bulk of the series due to injury.
Smith totalled a whopping 774 runs in seven innings for the series at an average of over 110. His hefty haul included twin tons in the series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham and a double-century at Old Trafford.
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