Australia retains Ashes after beating England in 4th test
Manchester: Australia retained the Ashes after beating England by 185 runs in the final session of the fourth test at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Josh Hazlewood claimed the winning wicket, trapping Craig Overton leg before wicket, as Australia dismissed England's second innings for 197 deep into the evening session to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
As the holder, Australia only needs to draw the series to keep cricket's famous urn.
"We've retained it, we haven't won it," Australia captain Tim Paine told the BBC. He added: "We'll have a bloody good night together." The fifth and final test in cricket's oldest regular international series starts Sept. 12 at The Oval.
England resumed Day 5 on 18-2, went to lunch on 87-4 and tea on 166-6.
Jack Leach, who scored a 51-ball 12, batted for an hour with England fans hoping for a repeat of his third test heroics, or even bad light.
Australia held on to the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years. It thrashed England by 251 runs in the opening test at Edgbaston, the second test at Lord's was drawn before England won at Headingley by one wicket to level the series 1-1.
"Bitterly disappointed," England captain Joe Root said, "to come so close to taking it to The Oval is quite hard to take."
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Indian opposition condemns Khamenei killing; Modi government yet to comment
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has condemned the joint US-Israel strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
In a statement, the Congress said it “unequivocally condemns the targeted assassination” of the Iranian leader, describing it as “in a military strike carried out without a formal declaration of war.”
The party termed the development a serious escalation and raised concerns over the implications for regional stability.
Meanwhile, the Government of India has not issued any formal statement specifically on Khamenei’s reported killing so far.
On Saturday, the Narendra Modi government had expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, as the United States, Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes. However, it stopped short of directly commenting on the reports regarding the Iranian leader’s death.
India has traditionally maintained working relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, alongside its ties with the United States and Israel. Further official reaction from New Delhi is awaited.
