Seamer Josh Tongue impressed with 3-42 for England, but Alex Carey’s boundary secured the win for Australia in the afternoon alongside Cameron Green.
England should be commended for putting up a fight in the match, unlike past series where they were dominated. However, without the injured Ben Stokes, defending 160 runs was always going to be a challenge.
Australia’s openers got off to a strong start, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald contributing before their dismissals. Usman Khawaja, playing his final innings before retirement, fell after a brief stint at the crease.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped early in his innings, couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and was run out for 37. Carey and Green had a slight scare with a mix-up but ultimately secured the win.
Earlier in the day, England’s Bethell scored a commendable century, giving England a fighting chance before Starc’s crucial wickets sealed the deal for Australia.
In the end, Australia’s dominant performance throughout the series led to a well-deserved victory and a memorable end to the Ashes.
