ASHES DAY FIVE – SESSION BY SESSION: England tore through Australia for deserved victory after even morning

Stuart Broad got the dream finish he wanted as England signed off a memorable Ashes summer in style, flooring Australia in an intoxicating finale at the Kia Oval to square the series 2-2.

Broad took the last two wickets to fall as he headed in retirement in triumph in a 49-run win, the stage having been set by the outstanding efforts of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.

A rain-ruined draw at Old Trafford had already ensured the urn would be heading Down Under with the holders, but England have been an irresistible force at times and anything less than a share of the spoils would have been an injustice.

They took all 10 Australian wickets on the final day of the final Test, rallying to the cause despite losing the entire afternoon to more bad weather.

Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH breaks down the action in both of Monday’s sessions. 

Morning session

Shared (½ point each)

Making full use of an advantageous ball change, Chris Woakes knocked over David Warner and Usman Khawaja early, before Mark Wood added Marnus Labuschagne.

Had Ben Stokes not lost control of the ball after catching Steve Smith on 39 at leg slip off Moeen Ali, it would have been England’s session.

Steve Smith (L) and Travis Head’s partnership had threatened to take Australia to victory

Afternoon session: Rained off

Evening session

England (1 point)

After a two-hour break for rain, Ali and Woakes presided over a remarkable Australian collapse of five for 30. 

Who else but Stuart Broad then completed England’s series-squaring 49-run win with the wickets of Todd Murphy and Alex Carey. A 2-2 was the least England deserved. Simply sensational.

Stuart Broad completed England’s series-squaring 49-run win with the two final wickets

Verdict after day five: England nick it 

England (6 pts) Australia 7 pts)