Ashes 2005 - 5th Test, The Oval

England skipper Michael Vaughan gleefully lifts the Ashes urn following the drawn fifth Test at The Oval

England (373 and 335) drew with Australia (367 and four without loss)

England headed to The Oval for the final Test clutching a 2-1 lead and with the Ashes within their grasp for the first time in 16 years.

Anticipation around the country had reached fever pitch but, facing a wounded Australia, there was still much work to be done.

The tourists could no longer win the series outright, but victory in south London would be enough for them to retain the urn, and they would not go down without a fight.

In keeping with the rest of the series, the match proved another highly dramatic affair with England eventually beating the weather to claim a most welcome draw and spark scenes of jubilation on and off the pitch.

England were forced to make their first change of the series for the match as Simon Jones was ruled out with an ankle injury and Paul Collingwood was brought in.

Glenn McGrath returned from injury for Australia, but it was his great partner, Shane Warne, who initially kept England in check after a bright start.

Although England raced away to 82 without loss, Warne - the leading wicket-taker in the series - struck four times in quick succession to turn the tide.

The hosts came back again as Andrew Strauss dug in and put on 143 with man-of-the-series Andrew Flintoff (72) on his way to 129, his second ton of the series.

Warne finished with 6-122 as England posted 373, but Australia openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, subdued for most of the series, responded powerfully.

Kevin Pietersen celebrates a magnificent hundred, which helped rescue England from a tricky position

The pair had put on 112 when they accepted an offer of light 85 minutes before the end of the second day.

In a game they needed to win, it seemed a cautious decision as they were getting on top, but they went on to put on 185 before Steve Harmison broke through to remove Langer for 105.

Hayden completed his century as Australia advanced to 277 for two on a rain-hit third day before Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard took control the following day.

The fiery Flintoff finished with 5-78 and Hoggard's swing was almost as potent, the Yorkshireman picking up 4-97 as Australia crashed were bowled out for 367.

England had a slender lead but their bowlers had proved the conditions were clearly seamer-friendly and their batsmen faced an early examination in the second innings.

The light was bad but Australia were keen to stay out and play and showed some humour amid the pressure by returning to the field wearing sunglasses. The partisan English crowd responded by putting up umbrellas.

England ended day four on 34 for one, facing a nervy final day.

Two McGrath wickets saw England slip to 67 for three and Kevin Pietersen nervously survived a caught-behind chance off the hat-trick ball. He was then dropped by Hayden before scoring and by Warne on 15.

Warne hit back to remove Marcus Trescothick and went on to claim another six-wicket haul, but Pietersen made the most of his luck to hit an Ashes-winning 158. A stand of 109 with dogged number nine Ashley Giles, whose 59 was his highest Test score, proved crucial.

After England were finally bowled out for 335 the game was as good as up for Australia. There was insufficient time to chase 342 and bad light finally put them out of their misery.