England Clinch Oval Thriller to Draw Ashes 2023 Series 2–2

Late in the evening, he struck the final blow by taking the last Australian wicket, sealing a 49-run win for England. This moment not only helped England level the series 2-2 but also gave Broad a perfect farewell. It was a fitting end to a remarkable Test career as Broad walked away with pride, leaving behind memories fans will cherish forever.

Australia vs England: 5th Test on 27th-31st July

The last match of the 2023 Ashes series, played at The Oval in London from July 27 to July 31, was a heart-pounding showdown that ended with England beating Australia by 49 runs, levelling the series at 2-2. This fifth Test, part of the ICC World Test Championship, was a rollercoaster of big hits, tight bowling, and emotional moments, especially with Stuart Broad bowing out of Test cricket. England’s bold batting and sharp bowling edged out Australia’s gritty fight, making it a classic Ashes battle.

England’s First Innings

England kicked things off after Australia chose to bowl, piling on 283 runs in 54.4 overs at a lively run rate of 5.17. The innings started with a bang as openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put on 62 runs. Crawley scored a steady 22 off 37 balls with 3 fours, while Duckett went all guns blazing, smashing 41 off 41 balls with 3 fours at a strike rate of 100. Their partnership gave England a flying start, but Mitchell Marsh (1/43) broke through, getting Duckett caught behind. Crawley followed soon after, nicked off by Pat Cummins (1/66), and Joe Root’s quick 5 off 11 balls, bowled by Josh Hazlewood (2/54), left England wobbling at 73/3.

Moeen Ali stepped up with a gutsy 34 off 47 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes, and found a great partner in Harry Brook, who played a blinder. Brook’s 85 off 91 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes, was the heartbeat of the innings, keeping Australia’s bowlers on their toes. Their 111-run stand for the fourth wicket was a game-changer, but when Brook fell to Mitchell Starc (4/82), England stumbled again. Captain Ben Stokes scratched around for 3 off 16, and Jonny Bairstow managed just 4 off 14, both undone by Starc and Hazlewood. The lower order kept fighting, though. Chris Woakes chipped in with a handy 36 off 36 balls, including 4 fours and a six, while Mark Wood smashed 28 off 29 balls with 5 fours, showing no fear.

Stuart Broad added a quick 7 off 5, but Starc cleaned up Woakes to end the innings, with James Anderson left on 0 not out. Todd Murphy’s spin was tidy, grabbing 2/22, and Australia’s bowlers, despite leaking 18 extras, kept things tight enough to stop England from running away. It was a solid total, not massive, but enough to keep the game in the balance, with England’s attacking mindset setting the tone for a fiery contest.

Australia’s First Innings

Australia answered with 295 runs in a long 103.1 overs, scraping a 12-run lead at a cautious run rate of 2.85. Usman Khawaja set the tone, grinding out 47 off 157 balls with 7 fours, while David Warner scored 24 off 52 with 3 fours before Chris Woakes (3/61) had him caught at slip. Marnus Labuschagne struggled for 9 off 82 balls, falling to Mark Wood’s (2/62) pace, which put Australia on the back foot at 91/2. Steven Smith, as usual, was the rock, carving out 71 off 123 balls with 6 fours, holding the innings together. But the middle order wobbled as Travis Head flashed 4 off 5 before Stuart Broad (2/49) got him, and Mitchell Marsh’s 16 off 28, with a four and a six, ended with James Anderson (1/67) striking.

Alex Carey’s 10 off 23, dismissed by Joe Root’s part-time spin (2/20), left Australia at 170/6, and it looked like England might run through them. But the lower order dug in. Pat Cummins played a captain’s knock of 36 off 86 balls with 4 fours, and Todd Murphy surprised everyone with a bold 34 off 39 balls, smashing 2 fours and 3 sixes. Their 49-run stand for the ninth wicket frustrated England, but Woakes broke through, trapping Murphy lbw, and Root got Cummins to wrap things up, with Josh Hazlewood unbeaten on 6.

England’s bowlers were relentless as Woakes was the pick, while Broad’s key wickets and Wood’s raw pace kept Australia in check. Anderson bowled tight lines, and Root’s unexpected wickets showed England’s depth. Australia’s 31 extras, including 17 byes, helped their cause, but their slow scoring rate showed a cautious approach, unlike England’s aggression. Smith’s class and the tail’s fight kept Australia just ahead, but the slim lead meant the game was wide open heading into England’s second dig.

England’s Second Innings

England came out swinging in their second innings, racking up 395 in 81.5 overs at a brisk 4.82 run rate, setting Australia a hefty 384 to chase. Zak Crawley led the way with a cracking 73 off 76 balls, stroking 9 fours, while Ben Duckett’s 42 off 55 balls, with 7 fours, gave them a strong start with a 79-run opening stand. Mitchell Starc (4/100) got Duckett caught behind, and Pat Cummins (1/79) dismissed Crawley, but Ben Stokes (42 off 67, 3 fours, 1 six) and Joe Root kept the momentum going. Root was the star, crafting a superb 91 off 106 balls with 11 fours and a six, anchoring the innings.

Harry Brook’s quick 7 off 6, including a six, ended early to Josh Hazlewood (1/67), but Jonny Bairstow stepped up with a brilliant 78 off 103 balls, smashing 11 fours. His 110-run stand with Root took England past 300, putting Australia under real pressure. Moeen Ali chipped in with 29 off 38 balls, hitting 4 fours, but the innings fell short late on as Chris Woakes fell for 1 off 5, and Mark Wood made 9 off 11. Todd Murphy was Australia’s standout bowler, taking 4/110, including Root’s wicket and James Anderson’s (8 off 19) lbw after a review. Stuart Broad, unbeaten on 8 off 8 with a six, added a final flourish in his last Test innings.

Starc fought hard, removing Bairstow and Moeen, but Cummins and Marsh (0/35) were expensive. England’s aggressive batting, driven by Root and Bairstow’s big partnership, set a daunting target. The pitch still had something for the bowlers, but England’s intent to pile on runs showed their confidence in their attack to defend 384. This innings was classic “Bazball”, bold, attacking, and designed to put Australia on the ropes for the final day’s chase.

Australia’s Second Innings

Chasing 384, Australia fought hard but fell 49 runs short, finishing at 334 in 94.4 overs. David Warner (60 off 106, 9 fours) and Usman Khawaja (72 off 145, 8 fours) gave them a dream start, putting on 140 for the first wicket. It looked like they might pull off something special, but Chris Woakes (4/50) changed the game, getting Warner caught behind and Khawaja lbw after a review. Marnus Labuschagne’s 13 off 33, dismissed by Mark Wood (1/34), slowed things down, but Steven Smith (54 off 94, 9 fours) and Travis Head (43 off 70, 6 fours) kept the chase alive with a 95-run stand.

Just when Australia seemed in control at 264/3, Moeen Ali (3/76) struck, removing Head and Mitchell Marsh (6 off 9) in quick succession. Smith’s exit to Woakes, caught at slip, was a massive blow, and Starc’s golden duck left Australia reeling at 274/6. Alex Carey battled for 28 off 50 balls, with a four and a six, while Pat Cummins made 9 off 14. Todd Murphy’s 18 off 39 showed grit, but Stuart Broad (2/62), in his final Test, sealed the deal, dismissing Murphy and Carey. Josh Hazlewood was left not out on 4.

England’s bowlers were brilliant as Woakes was the hero, Moeen’s spin turned the game, and Broad’s emotional farewell wickets capped his career. Mark Wood’s pace and Joe Root’s (0/39) tight overs added pressure, though James Anderson (0/53) went wicketless. Australia’s 27 extras helped, but losing Warner and Khawaja in quick succession was the turning point. The chase showed Australia’s heart, but England’s relentless attack proved too much, clinching a thrilling victory and a drawn Ashes series.