Ashes 2023 as it happened: Five wickets in 30 minutes secures thrilling England win

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Ashes 2023 as it happened: Five wickets in 30 minutes secures thrilling England win

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Over and out: An incredible Test and Ashes campaign

Well, what a Test match. What a series. What about Stuart Broad? Moeen Ali? Chris Woakes the destroyer - who’d have thought? Incredible day’s play with twists, turns, drama, disputes, rain delays… actually just par for the course in this series.

England deservedly level up at 2-2 thanks to an incredible post-tea spell when Australia lost five wickets in half an hour. Until then it was looking like Steve Smith would steer the tourists home with what is surely his last innings in England.

Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Alex Carey in the final match of his Test career.

Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Alex Carey in the final match of his Test career.Credit: Getty Images

Instead, Broad bows out in epic fashion, and Moeen Ali might have done the same. Malcolm Conn and Daniel Brettig are on the ground in London and will have all the wash-up to the match and series. It’s one we’ll be talking about for years to come. Thanks for joining us throughout the wee hours, well worth the lost sleep and frayed nerves.

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Chris Woakes wins the Compton-Miller medal

Chris Woakes is named player of the match and wins the overall player of the series - and the Compton-Miller medal.

Nineteen wickets at 18 and he describes today’s final, thrilling scenes as some of the best he’s enjoyed in Test cricket.

Stats: The final Ashes wicket tally

Stats: The final Ashes runs tally

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Stats: The English revival on day five

Wicket: Broad finishes his Test career with final scalp

And there it is. Stuart Broad has Alex Carey caught behind. The Oval erupts. England win by 49 runs.

Broad hits a six from the last ball he faces in Test cricket, and takes his 604th wicket with the last ball he bowls.

Carey fights right to the end but England prevail. Australia are all out for 334. Standing ovations for Broad and Moeen Ali as they walk off the field.

Australia retain the Ashes as England level the series at 2-2. One of the greatest series you’ll ever see.

One wicket left, 50 runs needed

Every ball now brings an appeal or a bit of chaos. Not least Zak Crawley - who has pouched three catches at second slip today - dropping Alex Carey with a hard and low catch off Stuart Broad.

Hazlewood has England oohing and ahhing at every turn now, as is the way with number elevens. So he pumps Moeen Ali for four off the back foot through the offside. That brings the required runs to 50.

Australia: 9-334 (Carey 28*, Hazlewood 4*), Australia need 50 runs to win.

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Wicket: Broad knocks over Murphy after bail trick

Stuart Broad. Talk about sorcery. Just when you wonder if Australia could rattle up a miracle, Broad mucks around with the bails, switching them over as he did in the first innings.

And just as he did in the first innings (knocking over Labuschagne the very next ball), Broad dismisses Murphy. Caught behind.

That was a fantastic delivery, and equally thrilling theatre. Few could pull that off.

Josh Hazlewood now, the last man to enter the fray. Still 54 needed for Australia as England crowd around the No.11 for Moeen Ali.

Australia: 9-330 (Carey 28*, Hazlewood 0*), Australia need 54 runs to win.

Six: Carey hits out as target inches closer

Australia inching their way along, and then... whack. Alex Carey advances down the wicket to Ali and plonks him straight back down the ground, over the rope.

This partnership is up to 30 runs now and it’s been nine overs since the madcap madness of five wickets in half an hour. Murphy follows up by crunching Stuart Broad behind square, pulling a short ball away. Great shot. They couldn’t actually do this... could they?

Australia: 8-329 (Carey 27*, Todd Murphy 18*), Australia need 55 runs to win.

Australia pass 300

Todd Murphy comes down the track to Stuart Broad and flips him nonchalantly over mid-wicket, bounces down to the boundary. He won’t die wondering.

Rides a short ball with his head up and ball in the air, but no danger of it falling with a fielder. Field coming in and out accordingly to keep Murphy on strike. Moeen Ali continues and Murphy has four catching men around the bat.

Australia: 8-306 (Carey 13*, Todd Murphy 9*), Australia need 78 runs to win.

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