Australian opening pair of David Warner and Usman Khawaja clicked together at the best possible time for the Baggy Greens. With Pat Cummins' men starring at a daunting target of 384 runs and England looking for a celebratory send-off for Stuart Broad, Day 4 of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test at The Oval was dampened by the rain but not before Warner and Khawaja put on a masterclass of batsmanship under tremendous pressure. As a result, Australia ended Day 4 in a commanding position with 135/0 on the board, needing 249 more runs to win the Ashes 3-1 in England.
Broad's surprise announcement on Saturday night that he would retire after this series ensured all eyes were on him as England resumed on 389/9. Broad, who was given a guard of honor by the touring side when he came out to bat, pulled the last delivery of Mitchell Starc's opening over into the stands and it proved to be his final play of the bat. Todd Murphy trapped James Anderson lbw five balls later to dismiss England with Broad unbeaten on eight.
There would be no early heroics with the ball for Broad though, with Warner and Khawaja guiding Australia to lunch on 75 without loss before rain arrived.
The rain had already frustrated both teams on the fourth day with Australia going to an early tea - which turned into stumps - on 135/0 in its second innings after 38 overs.
England pacer Mark Wood was finally introduced after lunch for the 33rd over of the innings and Australia brought up two milestones. A Warner single saw the hundred partnership for the first wicket reached and Khawaja edged the next ball for four to go to a third half-century of the series.
Warner followed his opening partner to fifty, reaching the milestone off 90 balls in his final innings in England, having signaled his intention to retire in January.
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