England beat Australia to win Ashes series Down Under after 24 years
By ANIFriday, January 7, 2011
SYDNEY - England’s 24-year wait to win an Ashes series in Australia is over, as the visitors thrashed Australia by an innings and 83 runs in the fifth and final Test in Sydney on Friday to claim a 3-1 victory.
England were frustrated momentarily by rain interruptions, but Andrew Strauss’ men needed just under 20 overs on day five to claim the final three Australian wickets.
The Aussies had begun the day in a hopeless position at 213-7, still needing another 151 runs to make England bat again.
Steve Smith (54) and Peter Siddle (43) made a brief fight, as they added 86 runs for the eighth-wicket, but were powerless to stop their side from being dismissed for 281 to lose by an innings for an unprecedented third time in the series, Fox Sports reports.
Siddle finally went for 43 when slog-sweeping spinner Graeme Swann.
James Anderson removed Ben Hilfenhaus before Chris Tremlett bowled Michael Beer to spark emotional celebrations for the visitors.
Smith was left unbeaten on 54.
The victory gave the visitors their first Test series win in Australia since the 1986-87 tour.
England opening batsman Alastair Cook was declared both man of the match and man of the series, having scored 766 runs across all five matches.
It was also the first time Australia had lost three Tests at home since 1988-89, when Viv Richards’ West Indies side had won by a 3-1 margin. (ANI)
