The fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground went right to the wire on Day 5. Australia pulled off a five-wicket win and wrapped up the series 4-1. The last day had everything one could think of: nerves, drama, and a pretty emotional goodbye to one of Australia’s greats.
Final Score
- England: 384 and 342 all out
- Australia: 567 and 161/5 (won by 5 wickets)
- Player of the Match: Travis Head
- Player of the Series: Mitchell Starc (31 wickets at 19.93)
Ashes 5th Test Day 5 Session 1
Bethell Falls After Magnificent 154 as England Set 160 Target
England resumed the final morning at 302 for 8 with Jacob Bethell unbeaten on 142. The young left-hander needed to squeeze every possible run from the tail. Bethell moved to 150 off 243 balls when he clipped Mitchell Starc through midwicket for four off the first delivery with the new ball. Matthew Potts provided useful support, adding 18 runs before Josh Tongue fell for six. Starc ended Bethell’s magnificent knock when the 22-year-old got a top edge that Alex Carey pouched behind the stumps. Bethell walked off to a standing ovation for his 154 off 265 balls, an innings that included 15 boundaries. This was his maiden Test century and his first hundred in first-class cricket. England finished on 342, setting Australia a target of 160 to win.
Australia started their chase with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald piling up 57 for the first wicket. It looked easy for a while, but then Josh Tongue shook things up. Head’s fantastic run finally ended when he skied one to the on-side for 29. He finished the series with 629 runs at an average of 62.90, which is the ninth-most in Ashes history. He got Weatherald for 34 with a short ball that clipped the gloves and sailed to fine leg. Potts grabbed a sharp catch.
Ashes 5th Test Day 5 Session 2
Jacks Strikes Gold, Head’s Prolific Series Ends, and Khawaja Gets Guard of Honour
Will Jacks then bowled the ball of the match. A sharp turner that ripped from outside off and bowled Steve Smith for just 12. That’s when Usman Khawaja walked in for his last-ever Test innings. England gave him a guard of honour, and Ben Stokes shook his hand as the SCG crowd roared. Khawaja clipped his first ball for four, but the fairytale didn’t last. He dragged a good-length ball from Tongue onto his stumps and left for just six. Joe Root came right over for a handshake. The crowd stood and cheered, and Khawaja dropped to his knees, performed the Sajdah, and kissed the Sydney turf before walking off for the final time. His wife, Rachel, wiped away tears in the stands.
Things got tense after that. A mix-up saw Marnus Labuschagne run out for 37 with 39 still needed. Suddenly, Australia was 125 for 5, and the nerves set in. But Cameron Green and Alex Carey kept their cool. Green hit three boundaries and ended unbeaten on 22, while Carey finished on 16 not out. Australia reached 161 for 5, sealing the win by five wickets and locking in a 4-1 series victory.
