SYDNEY: Australia survived a few nervous moments before safely chasing down a 160-run target to beat England by five wickets in the fifth Ashes Test on Thursday, sealing a 4-1 series triumph at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
England’s seamer Josh Tongue led a spirited rearguard with figures of 3-42, but Alex Carey guided Australia home with a cover drive for four in mid-afternoon, finishing the job alongside Cameron Green before tea on the final day.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith praised Australia’s collective effort across the series. “We’ve played so well as a team,” Smith said. “We’ve had some incredible individual performances, but everyone stood up at different moments. That’s what makes a really good team.”
Australia’s openers reduced the target to under 100 before Travis Head, the player of the match after scoring his third century of the series in a first-innings 567, fell for 29. Jake Weatherald followed for 34 as Tongue kept England’s hopes alive into lunch.
England made a contest of the chase despite missing injured captain Ben Stokes, though defending 160 on a good wicket was always a tall order. The match also marked an emotional farewell for veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who was dismissed for six in his final Test innings.
