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This article was first published 11 years ago

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Last updated on: August 26, 2013 02:14 IST

Image: Alastair Cook of England kisses the urn after winning the Ashes
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The final Ashes Test ended in a dramatic draw after bad light halted play, with England on 206-5 at The Oval on Sunday.

-Scorecard

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Image: Michael Clarke of Australia remonstrates with Umpire Aleem Dar before bad light ended the match
Photographs: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The hosts, chasing 227, were scenting victory at the Oval after Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott shared a sparkling third-wicket partnership of 77.

Bad light forced the players off with four overs remaining.

England were an agonising 21 runs short of their target and had to settle for a 3-0 win in the series.

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Image: Michael Clarke of Australia looks
Photographs: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Earlier, Australia lost six quick wickets before declaring at tea on 111 for six to set England a victory target of 227 on the final day.

-Scorecard

The touring side, 0-3 down in the series, had 44 overs to bowl out England, who scored 377 in their first innings, and secure their first victory in nine Tests.

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Image: Puddles form on the pitch at the Oval in London
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The fourth day was washed out by rain and England resumed on 247 for four, needing 46 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Chris Woakes, on 25, soon edged a good-length ball from Ryan Harris straight to Michael Clarke at second slip, but Matt Prior, searching for form after a disappointing series with the bat, played positively from the start.

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Image: Ryan Harris celebrates with team mates after claiming the wicket of Chris Woakes on Sunday
Photographs: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Bell, Faulkner's first Test victim, scored 545 runs in the series and made three centuries.

Prior's fifth four, a slash to third man off Peter Siddle, took England past 300 but Mitchell Starc returned to the attack to uproot Stuart Broad's middle stump.

Graeme Swann immediately went on the offensive, taking 10 runs off the first three balls he faced from Starc and dancing down the pitch to hit off-spinner Nathan Lyon straight for six and lift England to 350 for seven at lunch.

PHOTOS: Final Ashes Test ends in thrilling draw

Image: Shane Watson of Australia
Photographs: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Australia sent out Shane Watson to open with David Warner and the all-rounder, who made 176 in the first innings, was badly dropped on nought by Broad off Anderson.

Watson, on 26, drove Swann to Kevin Pietersen at long on, Haddin nicked his first ball off Broad through to Prior and Faulkner, after making 22 from 22 balls, also edged Broad to the keeper as Australia stumbled to 67 for four.