Day five of the fourth Ashes Test: Australia retain the urn
Australia claimed a 185-run victory at Old Trafford.
England’s hopes of reclaiming the Ashes finally ended despite a battling rearguard in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
The hosts nullified Australia’s attack for most of a captivating final day as they sought an unlikely draw but they eventually surrendered to a 185-run defeat.
England saw off 84.3 of the 98 overs scheduled for Sunday but succumbed at 6.15pm when the dogged Craig Overton was given out lbw after batting 105 balls for his 21.
Overton had shared in a determined ninth-wicket stand with Jack Leach that lasted 64 minutes and cranked up the tension, but their efforts were not quite enough.
Australia’s victory gave them a 2-1 lead in the series and meant they would retain the Ashes regardless of the result in the final Test at the Oval.
Australia’s Steve Smith was not surprisingly named player of the match after his first-innings 211 and quickfire 82 in the second.
Tweet of the day
Cricket’s world governing body appears to be suggesting an England fan’s actions in wearing a mask of Steve Smith crying after Australia’s ball-tampering fiasco has come back to haunt him in this series.
Quote of the day
The Australia captain praises his team after a tumultuous period stretching back to last year’s ball-tampering affair.
Snap shot
Australia’s win ensured they would leave England with the Ashes for the first time since 2001. Since then, which at the time was a fourth successive series win in England, Australia have lost in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015.
Australia’s twin number ones
All not lost for England?
Australia may be celebrating retaining the Ashes but they are not yet guaranteed a series win. Victory for England at the Oval next week would see the series end 2-2 – a feat that in other circumstances would be considered a success.
Overton and Leach frustrate Australia
The stubborn ninth-wicket partnership between Overton and Leach that held up Australia’s victory charge lasted 64 minutes and occupied 84 balls. Leach took 54 balls out of the game, scoring 12 runs in the process, while Overton contributed six to the 23-run stand in 34 balls. They also did their best to delay the game, with Leach again needing to clean his glasses and calls for the 12th man to come on.
Roy castled
Crowd did their best
