Australia retain the Ashes but England square series

England beat Australia by 135 runs to level series 2-2

LONDON: England ended their memorable summer by earning a 2-2 draw in the Ashes with a 135-run defeat of Australia in the fifth Test.

On a beautifully sunny day at The Oval, England set Australia 399 to win and bowled them out for 263 to square the contest with their oldest enemies in a year when they lifted the World Cup for the first time.

Australia retain the urn they won in 2017-18 but miss out on a first series win in England since 2001, while an Ashes series is drawn for the first time in 47 years.

From 313-8 overnight, England added 16 to be all out for 329 and leave Australia in need of pulling off the highest runchase in an Ashes Test since 1948.

Stuart Broad quickly claimed the wickets of Marcus Harris and David Warner, before Jonny Bairstow stumped Marnus Labuschagne off the bowling of Jack Leach to leave Australia on 68-3 at lunch.

The key wicket of Steve Smith came soon after the resumption, with Stokes taking a fine catch at leg slip off Broad to remove the pivotal batsman. The England captain, Joe Root, dismissed Mitchell Marsh before tea, with Jack Leach dismissing Tim Paine early in the evening session.

Matthew Wade offered resistance, compiling an exceptional century as Australia threatened to force a final day. His stumping by Bairstow on 117 brought the finish line in sight for England, with the final two wickets falling soon after. It means they end coach Trevor Bayliss' reign with a win, while both sides have 56 points and sit joint-fourth in the World Test Championship.