Australia sealed a 4-1 Ashes series victory on the final day in Sydney, chasing down a target of 160 to beat England by five wickets in the fifth Test. The hosts reached 161 for five shortly after lunch, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey hitting the winning runs through extra cover off Will Jacks.
England had earlier added 40 runs to their overnight score of 302 for eight, but Mitchell Starc wrapped up the innings with two wickets to finish with 31 scalps in the series at an average of 19. Jacob Bethell's superb 154 was the highlight for England, earning a standing ovation from the Sydney crowd.
Australia's run chase had moments of tension, with Brydon Carse removing Travis Head for 29 and Jake Weatherald for 34 to leave the hosts at 71 for two at lunch. Steve Smith fell to a beauty from Jacks, and Usman Khawaja was bowled by Josh Tongue for six, before Marnus Labuschagne was run out for 37.
Needing 39 with five wickets in hand, Carey and Cameron Green steadied the nerves to guide Australia home. The match attendance surpassed 200,000 for the first time at the SCG, with a crowd of 26,000 on the final day.
England captain Ben Stokes watched from first slip, his side left to rue missed chances throughout the series. Australia's superiority was underlined by Travis Head's 629 runs at 69.2, Starc's record strike-rate of 29.6, and Scott Boland's accuracy.
