England level series as Broad bows out in style on Day 5

The final day of the 2023 Ashes offered a fitting finale to the drama and tension on show between England and Australia across the past six weeks as the hosts fought back in the final session to secure a pulsating 49-run victory at the Oval, drawing the series at 2-2.

Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes flipped the script for Ben Stokes’ side on Monday evening, picking up seven wickets between them to thwart Australia’s pursuit of 384 before Stuart Broad applied the perfect finishing touch. The 37-year-old seamer picked up the last scalp of the innings, dismissing Alex Carey to complete England’s comeback from 2-0 down in the series and cap off a sensational red-ball career with his 604^th and final wicket.

Having been set a steep target of 384 in the fourth innings to secure their first series victory in England since 2001, the Australian openers gave the visitors the perfect platform to complete a miracle, adding a century stand on a rain-hit day four.

The pair were untroubled for large parts of Sunday, taking stumps at 134/0, but gloomy overhead conditions on the fifth morning and a replacement ball offered the hosts the opportunity to get back in the contest. England struck in the fourth over of the days as Woakes removed Warner for the fourth time in a row, nicking off the left-hander for 60.

The Warwickshire seamer, who turned the series on its head since his inclusion in the third Test at Headingley, also pocketed Usman Khawaja in his next over with an inswinger that trapped the opener on his pads. Mark Wood made it England’s morning by adding a third, drawing an outside edge from Marnus Labuschagne.

From 169 for 3, Australia counter-attacked through Steve Smith and Travis Head. The middle-order pair put the pressure back on Ben Stokes’ side with some aggressive batting, getting the target under 150. The dup added 95 for the fourth wicket to put Australia marginally ahead, but the tables turned shortly after the extended rain break as the visitors suffered an untimely collapse.

England picked up four wickets in the space of just 19 deliveries before the second new ball as Moeen Ali removed Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, while Woakes added the wickets of Steve Smith on 54 and Mitchell Starc. Moeen also pocketed Pat Cummins after a brief stand with Alex Carey before Stuart Broad returned to provide the fitting finale, picking up the final two wickets.

The seamer had left-handers Todd Murphy and Alex Carey nicking off to Jonny Bairstow and wheeled away in celebration after taking his final scalp, signing off in the sunset with a dream farewell to give England a 49-run victory that drew the Ashes at 2-2.