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Stuart Broad bid goodbye to a 16-year Test career with a thrilling win over Pat Cummins-led Australia at Kennington Oval, London. Broad had a fairytale end to an illustrious career as he took the last two wickets to guide England to a 49-run win on Day 5 of the fifth Test which helped Ben Stokes-led side level the series 2-2.
Woakes’ early strikes
Starting the day at 135/0 after a rain delay, Chris Woakes broke the partnership with the wicket of David Warner. From over the wicket, Woakes got the ball to move just enough to catch the outside edge which landed in Jonny Bairstow's gloves. Warner contributed 60 runs from 106 balls to a 140-run opening partnership. In his next over, Woakes got the ball to move the other way and trapped Usman Khawaja in front of the stumps. The wobble seam delivery got the wicket of Khawaja who scored 72 runs from 145 balls. He opted for DRS but it could not save him.
Marnus Labuschagne hit a couple of boundaries and just when the partnership was building, Mark Wood in his second over of the day got the wicket. Labuschagne got out in a similar way he did in the first innings. He edged it to Zak Crawley who took a low catch to send him back to the pavillion. Labuschagne scored just 13 runs from 33 balls.
The big partnership
Steve Smith and Travis Head endured when English bowlers had their tails up. They hit boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving. In the last over before lunch break, Stokes wasted a golden opportunity to dismiss Smith. Moeen Ali was able to draw Smith forward and the ball spun enough to take an inside edge and hit the front pad. Stokes who was at leg gully pulled off a one-handed stunner only to put it down while celebrating as his hand hit the right knee. Smith would have gotten out if not for Stokes losing control of the ball. After the first session, Australia were 238/3.
The collapse
Rain interrupted play just when Smith and Head walked out to bat after the lunch break. The game resumed much later as an entire session was washed out. A maximum of 47 overs were allowed in the last session. Smith got to his half-century in the 74th over of the innings. Next ball, Head went for a drive with hard hands and edged the ball to Joe Root who took a good catch. Head contributed 43 runs from 70 balls in the 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
In the next over, Woakes got the better of Smith. The ball shaped away and took an outside edge. Crawley took a good catch at second slip to send Smith packing. He scored 54 runs from 94 balls. Another wicket fell in the next over. Mitchell Marsh was beaten in the air and the inside edge hit his pad. Bairstow dived to his right to take the catch. In Woakes next over, Mitchell Starc went for a needless booming drive and Crawley took another catch at slips. Starc departed without troubling the scorers. Australia lost four wickets for 11 runs and found themselves in deep trouble.
Carey and Cummins tried to get the run chase back on track. Soon enough, the new ball was available but after a conference between Stokes, Wood, Root and Ali they decided against it. The decision paid dividends as Cummins went for a big shot after seeing the ball pitched short. The ball spun more than expected and all Cummins could get was an inside edge. The ball hit his pad and went up in the air. Stokes’ eyes lit up and he took the catch with both hands. This time he waited to celebrate till he was in total control.
Broad’s spellbinding spell
After Cummins' wicket, Todd Murphy showed solid defense. On the other hand, Carey pounced on deliveries where he thought he can attack. The southpaw hit Ali for a six. Stokes did not take the new ball and persisted with Broad as well. The 37-year-old finally got the better of Murphy. He swapped the bails on the non-striker's end. Next ball, he squared up Murphy just enough to induce an outside edge as the crowd went berserk.
A few overs later, Broad in his marathon spell wrapped Australia's innings with the wicket of Carey. The scrambled seam length delivery moved away just enough to take the edge as Bairstow took an easy catch to finish off the game. Australia got all out for 334. They lost seven wickets for 70 runs in the last session and missed out on a chance to pull off the second-highest Ashes successful run chase.
What happened in first three innings?
Earlier in the fifth Test, Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first. Hary Brook stood out with 91-ball 85. The hosts posted 283 on the board. In reply, Khawaja's 47, Smith's 71, and contributions from lower order helped Australia post 295 and take a nominal 12-run lead. In the second innings, England batters were more attacking. Crawley scored a 76-ball 73. Ben Duckett and Stokes missed their respective half-centuries. Root's 91 and Bairstow's 78-run knock helped England post 395 and set a 384-run target.
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