Australia sealed a 4-1 Ashes series win on the final day in Sydney, chasing down a target of 160 to beat England by five wickets in the fifth Test. The victory, completed at 2.30pm, gave the hosts a dominant series triumph, though England were left to rue missed chances throughout the match.
England's hopes rested on a spirited fightback, but they fell short as Australia's bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc's 31 wickets in the series, proved too strong. Starc's strike-rate of 29.6 set a new record for an Ashes series, while Scott Boland's accuracy and Travis Head's explosive batting were key factors in Australia's success.
The run chase saw a few nervy moments for the home side, with Usman Khawaja bowled by Josh Tongue for six in his final Test innings, and Marnus Labuschagne run out for 37. However, Alex Carey's unbeaten 41 and Cameron Green's steady hand guided Australia home, Carey striking the winning runs through extra cover off Will Jacks.
England's Jacob Bethell scored a superb 154 in the first innings, a rare highlight for the tourists, but their bowling and fielding let them down at crucial moments. Ben Stokes, injured and watching from slip, saw his team's Ashes hopes evaporate after a promising start to the series.
The match attracted a record crowd of over 200,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the first time the venue has reached that milestone for a Test. Australia's comprehensive series win, their fourth consecutive Ashes triumph on home soil, underlined their dominance in the longest format.
