The Ashes 5th Test, Day 5: England vs Australia - As it happened...

Live updates from the fifth and final day of the fifth Test between England and Australia of the Ashes series.

Zee Media Bureau

SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» ========================================================================================================= The Oval: The fifth and the final Test match proved to be another thriller and even though the end of the day was a major disappointment for the crowd, the umpires had to do their duties and probably England would have done the same had they been in Australia’s place. We have had a fascinating tournament and Michael Clarke’s declaration made sure that the crowd got to see a contest, something which didn’t seem possible earlier in the day under inclement weather conditions. England have won the tournament 3-0, and they were undoubtedly the deserving winners. Michael Clarke on the other hand should be proud of the way his boys bounced back after the first two Tests. ==================================================================================== 2nd England innings Over 40|| Score 206/5 5th and final Ashes match has been drawn. Bad light probably save the Australians. In Ashes 2013, this is the first time that bad weather conditions have helped the Australians. IR Bell run out 17 (17b) ==================================================================================== Over 39|| Score 194/4 Match has reached at a very interesting stage. England need just 33 in just five overs. The match has converted from a Test to a limited over format. That’s the beauty of Ashes. England is heading towards the victory. IJL Trott lbw b Faulkner 59 (87b) KP Pietersen c Warner b Harris 62 (55b) ==================================================================================== Over 33|| Score 159/2 Faulkner got the wicket of Cook, who scored 34 runs in 54 balls. After the dismissal of Cook came in Kevin Pieterson. And justifying his stature as a big match player, he has been scoring quickly for the host side as they are eying for a 4-0 win. At the moment KP is playing on 60 and faced just 50 delivers. On the other end, Trott is also playing according to the situation and has scored 52 runs in just 79 balls. AN Cook lbw b Faulkner 34 (53b) ==================================================================================== Over 14|| Score 58/1 England are also looking desperate to win this match and the series by 4-0. Even after losing the first wicket early in the form of Joe Root the hosts are scoring quickly. Skipper Cook is in the middle along with Trott and both are playing on 24, 22 respectively. At the moment England have an upper hand. In 30 overs they need 169 runs, which is quite gettable. JE Root c Haddin b Harris 11 (17b) ==================================================================================== 2nd Australian innings Over 23|| Score 111/6 After losing two more wickets and taking their lead to 226, Australia declared their innings. Australia are still trying their luck as they don’t want to left any stone unturned. RJ Harris b Broad 1 (2b) SPD Smith c Swann b Broad 7 (12b) ==================================================================================== Over 18|| Score 83/4 Australia once again shuffled its batting order. This time Shane Watson came to open the innings with David Warner. But it didn’t work for Australia as both the openers only managed to score 26 (Watson) and 12 (Warner). Faulkner came to bat at n.o3 for Australia but went back to the pavilion after scoring quick 22 in as many balls. Faulkner gave his wicket to Broad. Haddin who came in to bat at n.o 4 got out without scoring a single run. But still Australians are scoring quickly and their average is 4.50. JP Faulkner c †Prior b Broad 22 (22b) BJ Haddin c †Prior b Broad 0 (1b) SR Watson c Pietersen b Swann 26 (32b) DA Warner c & b Anderson 12 (28b) ==================================================================================== Over 144.4 || Score 377 In the 144th over Faulkner sent Swann back in the pavilion. And with this wicket Faulkner collected four wickets by giving away just 51 runs. GP Swann b Faulkner 34 (24b) ==================================================================================== Over 144 || Score 377/9 In the second over after Lunch, Faulkner took his second wicket in the form of Prior. Trying to score a boundary Prior only managed a top edge and Starc took a marvelous catch at mid-on. In the next over new batsman Anderson collected a boundary of the first ball of Siddle’s over before getting an edge on the fifth that went to the wicketkeeper but Haddin dropped it. But it didn’t cost Australia much as in the very next over Faulkner send him back to the pavilion. But on the other end Swann is still scoring runs swiftly. As in the 142nd over by Siddle, he scored two consecutive boundaries. JM Anderson c Haddin b Faulkner 4 (10b) MJ Prior c Starc b Faulkner 47 (57b) ==================================================================================== Over 137 || Score 350/7 Bell Out. In the 129th over, Faulkner finally got his first test wicket and that too of the best batsman of the series, Ian Bell. Bell tried to glance the ball towards the on-side but a fine edge and Haddin took a fine catch behind the wickets. Broad came to the crease and join Prior. But after nine runs, he was cleaned up by Strac. Strac is getting a hint of reverse swing. Swann came in after the fall of seventh wicket. Swann is looking in a hurry here. He scored 24 runs in mere 11 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six before going for Lunch. SCJ Broad b Starc 9 (16b) IR Bell c Haddin b Faulkner 45 (143b) ==================================================================================== Over: 126 II Score: 289/5 The fifth day play has begun. Mitchell Starc bowled the first over the final day and off his sixth delivery, Woakes scored a boundary. Woakes’ next boundary also came off Starc thanks to an outside edge that sent the ball flying over fourth slip. Ryan Harris removed Woakes off the sixth delivery of the 122nd over after inducing an edge which flew into the hands of captain Clarke at second slip. He scored 25 (70b, 4X5). Matt Prior came as the new batsman to the middle. Prior scored consecutive boundaries off the third and fourth delivery of the 126th over bowled by Harris. ========================================================================================================= Australia`s hopes of forcing a consolation win in their Ashes finale against England were left hanging by a thread after rain washed out the whole of the fourth day`s play at The Oval on Saturday. Conditions worsened throughout the day and, with rain pelting down under increasingly dark skies, the umpires finally abandoned play for the day at 4.06pm local time (1506GMT) with only a handful of hardy spectators, some sheltering under umbrellas, still in the ground. The bad weather was especially frustrating for Australia, who were seeking a first win in nine Tests and trying to avoid their first Ashes series without a Test victory since 1977. England, who at 3-0 up had already won the five-match series and retained the Ashes, were 246 for four at stumps on the third day in reply to Australia`s first innings 492 for nine declared,