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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PIX: Rain forces stumps on Day 4 as Aus chase 384 for win

PIX: Rain forces stumps on Day 4 as Aus chase 384 for win

Last updated on: July 30, 2023 22:58 IST
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IMAGES from Day 5 of the 5th Ashes Test played between England and Australia at The Oval, London, on Sunday.

General view of covers being pulled over the wicket by groundstaff as rain stops play

IMAGE: General view of covers being pulled over the wicket by groundstaff as rain stops play. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters

The fourth day's play in the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Sunday was abandoned due to rain after Australian openers David Warner (58) and Usman Khawaja (69) shared a partnership of 135 as they chase a target of 384 to beat England.

 

The pair withstood a barrage of hostile bowling as they steamed past 100 on their way to the highest opening partnership in the Ashes in England since 2009.

Australia's Usman Khawaja is hit on the back of the helmet by a delivery by England's Mark Wood 

IMAGE: Australia's Usman Khawaja is hit on the back of the helmet by a delivery by England's Mark Wood. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters

Jimmy Anderson floored Warner with an unintended beamer when Australia were just short of a hundred, with the batter just managing to fend off the shoulder-height ball with his bat handle.

Fast bowler Mark Wood then hit Khawaja on the helmet with a bouncer shortly after, leading to a lengthy concussion check before the rain set in.

Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Joe Root and Wood all joined the attack for spells under the floodlights on an overcast day, but were unable to break through the openers' defences.

Australia's David Warner and Usman Khawaja put on a 75-run opening stand before lunch

IMAGE: Australia's David Warner and Usman Khawaja put on a 75-run opening stand before lunch. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/ Action Images via Reuters

Australia set about chasing down their target of 384 by reaching 75 without loss by lunch on a gloomy fourth day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Sunday, with David Warner (30) and Usman Khawaja (39) keeping the score ticking over steadily.

Stuart Broad, who announced his plan to retire the previous night, and Jimmy Anderson, on his 41st birthday, opened the bowling after ending England's second innings together, with Broad smashing the final ball of his batting career for six.

Broad very nearly claimed the wicket of Warner for the 18th time in Tests when the opener edged a ball in the fifth over to Ben Duckett in the slips, but the ball landed just short of the fielder.

Australia's Usman Khawaja bats 

IMAGE: Australia's Usman Khawaja bats. Photograph: Paul Childs/ Action Images via Reuters

Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Joe Root all joined the attack for spells as the floodlights came on under a heavily overcast sky, but all were unable to break through the openers' defences.

Anderson came closest shortly before the break, finding a tiny bit of reverse spin to Khawaja but the batter narrowly avoided nicking the ball to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

No team has ever chased down more than 263 at The Oval -- a record set by England against Australia back in 1902 -- although 10 sides have scored more than 300 on their way to draws at the south London ground.

Australia have retained the Ashes after the fourth Test was washed out, leaving them 2-1 up in the series. They are hoping to win the series outright however, to become the first Australian side to do so in England since 2001.

England's Stuart Broad smacks a six

IMAGE: England's Stuart Broad smacks a six. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters

Earlier, Stuart Broad had time to smash one final six before England were bowled out for 395 on the fourth day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Sunday, setting Australia an imposing target of 384 for the win.

Broad, who said on Saturday that he would retire from cricket after this match, smashed his 55th six for England -- putting him fifth on the all-time list of English six-hitters in Tests -- with the last ball of his batting career before Jimmy Anderson was trapped lbw by Todd Murphy to end the innings.

Australia's Alex Carey appeals successfully for the lbw wicket of England's James Anderson

IMAGE: Australia's Alex Carey appeals successfully for the lbw wicket of England's James Anderson. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters

England had batted with great intent on Saturday, with Zak Crawley (73), Joe Root (91) and Jonny Bairstow (78) helping to build the score as Australia's bowlers struggled to restrict the flow of runs.

Australia retained the Ashes after the fourth test was washed out, leaving them 2-1 up in the series. They are hoping to win the series outright however, to become the first Australian side to do so in England since 2001.

 

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