Ashes Series
Australia finally overturned a 4-1 victory in an Ashes series with a 5-wicket defeat over England in the fifth Trek at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With their eye on a small but ofgive 160 on a difficult pitch on the fifth day, Australia managed to keep the cool though they experienced a couple of tense moments to make it through the line.
Australia started the chase very well with a freight train like 62-run opening partnership which took shape in the onset. England struck back by ironically winning wickets but a serene 40-run partnership among Alex Carey and Cameron Green gave Australia a good target to follow and ultimately secured the victory.
England had earlier on in the day with a second inning again at 302/8 and came up strong. The first ball of the morning was hit to a boundary by Matthew Potts, and Jacob Bethell went on with his good innings, which had extended to 150. The first hour saw a number of reviews as to DRS, Bethell winning a case to reverse a decision that Scott boland lost on LBW.
Player Of the Series
Mitchell Starc was the best bowler in Australia; in his performance he eliminated Bethell and Josh Tongue to win the series with remarkable 31 wickets.
Travis Head responded to this by giving another strong start, after which Australia got off their chase with high confidence. England incinerated a review in the first over, and anger in the seventh over a caught-behind appeal against Jake Weatherald was not overturned because of the lack of evidence.
Josh Tongue made both Australian openers out before lunch as England retaliated in time to keep the battle going. The situation was still challenging following the break period, which enabled the pressure to be put in by England when Australia had to make a total of only 87 runs to secure the victory.
Will Jacks fired a sharp turn to drop Steve Smith whereas a missed opportunity by Bethell at the gully made Marnus Labuschagne get a short reprieve. The last Test match made by Usman Khawaja was short-lived as he was bowled out after chopping on, and soon after that Labuschagne was also made run out, which hoped that there would be a dramatic England dispatch.
Cameron Green escaped two of the near run-out situations as Australia seemed uncomfortable, but the goal reduced, and the dreams of England were ruined. The result was eventually homed when Alex Carey raced surely through the covers scoring four in the 32 th over.
Brief Scores
England: 384 (Joe root 160; Michael Neser 4-60) and 342 (Jacob Bethell 154; Beau Webster 3-64).
Australia: 567/5 (Travis Head 163; Josh Tongue 3-97) & 161/5 (Marnus Labuschagne 37; Josh Tongue 3-42)
Verdict: Australia emerged the 5 wicket victors.