IT'S ALL OVAL
The Ashes: England seal series-levelling, pride-salvaging win at The Oval despite Wade century as Smith runs out of steam
ENGLAND have sealed an Ashes-levelling, pride-salvaging win at The Oval despite Matthew Wade's valiant century - as Steve Smith finally ran out of steam.
Joe Root's men had been charging towards a win with the visitors 85-4 when Smith fell for just 23 after Stuart Broad's early wickets spree.
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But Wade hit a well-paced century to keep his side in it, before a late flurry of Root-inspired wickets saw England win by 153 runs.
After England were bowled out for 329 early on day four, Australia got off to the worst-possible start as Marcus Harris was clean-bowled by Broad with just 18 on the board.
Broad then got David Warner out for the SEVENTH time this series - with the controversial opener averaging a paltry 9.5 with the bat for the series.
Those wickets brought Marnus Labuschagne and Smith to the crease, so often this series the thorns in England's side.
But Jonny Bairstow brilliantly stumped the No3 off the bowling of Jack Leach, before Ben Stokes smartly caught Smith after the demigod fell into England's trap, trying to nurdle one towards fine leg.
Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine both chipped in with scores in the 20s to keep Wade company.
But when Pat Cummins came to the crease, England were into the bowlers and Australia still 199 runs away from victory.
WADE TO GO
What followed next was an enthralling, pulse-raising battle between Wade and Jofra Archer - who frequently exchanged barbs and got in each other's faces as the intensity ramped up.
But as Archer was pulled from the attack after eight overs, Wade remained and soon brought up his century.
Cummins eventually fell after seeing off 41 balls for his nine runs, tickling the ball to Bairstow off the bowling of Broad - with England needing just three wickets and Australia still 155 runs shy.
Wade appeared to fall to the very next ball, edging behind off the bowling of Joe Root - only for the centurion to review, with replays showing the ball turned sharply out of the foot marks with no bat involved.
But the big scalp wasn't far off as Root had Wade charging down the pitch, only for Bairstow to quickly whip the bails off as the batsman caught nothing but fresh air just 16 runs later.
Moments later England were just one wicket away as Nathan Lyon swept Leach straight to Root at square leg for one.
The very next ball it was over and the Ashes were drawn, as Root took a spectacular catch off the bowling of Leach to dismiss Josh Hazlewood for a golden duck.
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Leach and Broad took four wickets apiece - with Root chipping in with two on a spin-friendly wicket.
Despite claiming a well-deserved victory at The Oval, Australia have already retained the Ashes after their Fourth Test win at Old Trafford.
A drawn series sees the Aussies retain the famous urn after winning the last series Down Under in 2017-18 - but England ensured they ended a remarkable summer on a high.
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