Sydney: Australia has won the fifth and final Ashes Test against England by 5 wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), securing the series 4-1. Playing on home soil, the Australian team dominated throughout the series and easily chased down the target of 160 runs in the final match to retain the Ashes trophy.
First Innings Summary
At the start of the match, England won the toss and made the bold decision to bat first. Thanks to a magnificent 160 runs from Joe Root and 84 runs from Harry Brook, England posted a strong score of 384 runs in the first innings. Jamie Smith (46) and Will Jacks (27) also made useful contributions towards the end. In reply, the Australian batsmen took full advantage of the pitch and attacked the English bowlers. Australia posted a massive score of 567 runs in the first innings, gaining a crucial lead of 183 runs. There were two heroes of this innings: Travis Head, who played an explosive innings of 163 runs, and captain Steve Smith, whose fighting innings of 138 runs put Australia in a strong position.
Bethell's Struggle and Australia's Victory
Trailing by 183 runs in the second innings, the English team was under pressure. Young sensation Jacob Bethell single-handedly led the charge, playing a memorable innings of 154 runs, which helped England reach 342 runs in their second innings. However, despite Bethell's brilliant century, England could only set a target of 160 runs for Australia. On the fifth day, Australia started their chase of this target with a steady approach. Although they lost five wickets in the process, the small target meant they didn't face much difficulty in securing the victory.
Series Summary
With this win, Australia concluded the 5-match series with a 4-1 victory. Throughout the series, Australia's bowling and middle-order batting proved superior to England's. England managed to win only one match, while losing the other four. This marked the end of a fantastic Ashes series, which provided fans with many exciting and entertaining matches.
