The Ashes 2023: England registers a staggering win in a thriller to level up the series in 5th Test (Day-5) Match Report (England vs Australia)

England registered a staggering win against Australia on day-5 of the fifth test of the Ashes 2023 when they defeated the visitors by 49 runs in the rain affected match. In response to the target of 384 runs set by England, Australia could post only 334 runs on the scoreboard. Though the Aussies looked strong at day-4’s end with 135/0, but England’s bowling side made a strong bounce back to counter strong doing Australia wherein Woakes & Ali lead the charge by claiming 4/50 & 3/76 respectively whereas Broad claimed two wickets in this last match of his test career.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): How Australia started off

The Aussies had a stumbling start in contrast to their previous day’s dominance in the match. The first blow to the visitors came in the very fourth over of the day when at a score of 140, Warner fell prey to Woakes on a good length bouncy delivery which nicked his bat and went straight away to the keeper. The next blow came in no time when in a frame of next two overs, Khawaja was hunted down by Woakes once again when he got leg before on a full length delivery.

Having lost two set opening batsmen, Australian side was seen under pressure. Now it were Labuschagne & Smith on the crease but their partnership could prove effective as Labuschagne gave away his precious wicket when he got an edge off his bat on a wider as well as angled delivery by Wood, resulting in a catch at the second slip by Crawley. Having lost the top three crucial wickets at a score of 169, the Aussies could sense the trouble coming their way.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): Smith & Head played the anchor role

From hereon, Smith & Head made a significant 95-run partnership to pull their team out of this crisis before Head was shown the way to pavillion when he attempted to play drive on a spin delivery moving away from him, resulting in an edge which directed the ball into the hands of Root at slip. Head scored 43 off 70 balls including 6 boundaries, though missed out his half-century by a short margin of seven runs. Meanwhile, Smith completed yet another sensible fifty which included nine boundaries.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): Australia faces back to back blows

After departure of Head, came a series of back to back blows for the Aussies when at a score of 274, they lost the wickets of Smith & Marsh. In 75th over, Woakes bowled a brilliant short & wider ball to Smith on which he got an outside edge and the ball got directly into the hands of Crawley at second slip. Five balls later, Marsh got an inside edge on an off spin by Ali which touched onto his body to which Bairstow dived brilliantly to stretch out his hand and grab the ball.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): England snatched away the game

To add to the misery of the Aussies, Woakes snatched away the seventh wicket in the form Starc in the very next over. Now, Australia was left with Alex Carey and only tail-end batters who at times have brought their team back on track. But this time Australia required a big chase of 109 runs and it was obvious that the match result was inclined towards the hosts.

From hereon, the Aussies required a responsible partnership with Carey and skipper Cummins on the crease. But this could not happen as after adding 19 runs to the total, the partnership was broken by Ali when Cummins got an inside edge which was caught by skipper Stokes at slip. Murphy came next and played a sensible innings by scoring 18 runs and he along with Carey built a decent 35-run partnership.

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): Broad claims his final two wickets

At a score of 329, Australia lost its 9th wicket when Murphy got caught behind on an angled delivery by Broad. Now, English side was just one wicket away from a stunning win and that moment came soon when Broad brought another breakthrough when he delivered a good length & wider ball to Carey on which he got an outside edge, resulting in his catch by the wicket keeper. Broad finally claimed his last two wickets of his last test match.

BRIEF SCORE: Day-5 (5th Test), England vs Australia, The Ashes 2023
England: 283/10 (Brook 85, Duckett 41, Woakes 36, Starc 4/82, Murphy 2/22, Hazlewood 2/54)
Australia: 295/10 (Smith 71, Khawaja 47, Cummins 36, Woakes 3/61, Broad 2/49, Root 2/20)
England:  395/10 (Root 91, Bairstow 78, Starc 4/94, Murphy 4/110)
Australia: 334/10 (Khawaja 72, Warner 60, Smith 54, Woakes 4/50, 3/76, Broad 2/62)

England defeated Australia by 49 runs 

Result: Series drawn 2-2

Player of the Match: Chris Woakes (ENG)
Player of the Tournament: Chris Woakes (ENG) & Mitchell Starc (AUS)

The Ashes 2023, 5th Test (Day-5): Match Details

• Venue: Kennington Oval, London, England
• Dates: 27 Jul – 31 Jul
• Toss: Won by Australia, Chose to Bowl first
• Umpires: Joel Wilson (WI) & Kumar Dharmasena (SL)
• TV umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
• Reserve umpire: David Millns (ENG)
• Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)
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