Australia openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja hit unbeaten fifties because the vacationers reached 135-0 on a rain-shortened Sunday in pursuit of a mammoth goal of 384 runs to win the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. They stored Stuart Broad ready for a farewell wicket after the England fast-bowling nice made a shock announcement on Saturday that he was retiring after the match. Warner was 58 not out and fellow left-hander Khawaja unbeaten on 69 when rain at 2:41 pm (1341 GMT) ended play on the fourth day. Australia want 249 extra runs to finish a 3-1 sequence win and a primary Ashes marketing campaign triumph in England since 2001.

If Australia do handle to succeed in that focus on, it will likely be the eighth-highest fourth-innings whole to win any Test and the second-highest in England, behind Australia’s 404-3 at Headingley in 1948 when Arthur Morris made 182 and batting nice Don Bradman an unbeaten 173.

It would even be a brand new floor document — the very best profitable fourth-innings chase in a Test at The Oval is England’s 263-9 towards their arch-rivals in 1902.

Fast-medium bowler Broad has dismissed Warner 17 instances in Test cricket.

Neither he, nor the remainder of England’s tempo assault have been in a position to break by means of, nonetheless, earlier than rain despatched the gamers hurrying from the sphere, with a persistent downpour then ruling out any hope of a resumption later Sunday.

Warner, 30 not out at lunch, lofted England veteran James Anderson, who turned 41 on Sunday, straight again over the paceman’s head for a convincing boundary.

Two balls later Anderson, struggling to provide swing, shook Warner up with an unintentional head excessive full-toss, or beamer, the bowler instantly apologising because the ball sped away to the boundary for 4.

Khawaja, the main run scorer within the sequence, went to fifty along with his fifth 4 in 110 balls when he edged specific fast Mark Wood.

Warner, who in contrast has been struggling for runs, then adopted him with a 90-ball fifty that includes seven fours.

The openers performed England’s quicks comfortably, though off-spinner Moeen Ali did flip a few deliveries sharply on a floor the place he ended a 2017 Test towards South Africa with a hat-trick.

There was additionally some flip for infrequent spinner Joe Root, however that was small consolation for England.

Australia, because the holders, have already retained the Ashes after arriving in London 2-1 up within the five-match sequence.

Earlier, Broad was given a guard of honour as he made his approach to the wicket for the ultimate time, however England added simply six runs to their in a single day whole of 389-9.

The 37-year-old seamer is the fifth most profitable bowler in Test historical past, with 602 wickets to this point.

“I’ve had a love affair with the Ashes my whole life and the thought of being able to bowl my last ball and face my last ball against Australia fills me with joy,” he mentioned.

Broad, whose highest Test rating is 169, was batting along with his long-time bowling associate Anderson.

He confronted the primary over delivered by fellow paceman Mitchell Starc, with Broad pulling the sixth supply for a towering six.

But Anderson was lbw to off-spinner Todd Murphy off the fifth ball of the second over as England have been dismissed for 395.

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