CHESTER-LE-STREET: Stuart Broad bowled England to a stunning 74-run fourth Test win over Australia with more than a day to spare as they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.
Australia, set 299 to win on Monday’s fourth day here, were well-placed at 168 for two but slumped to 224 all out as paceman Broad took six wickets for 50 runs for a Test-best match haul of 11 for 121.
The victory means England, who had already retained the Ashes, have won three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s.
Australia, looking for their first win in eight Tests, lost five wickets for 13 runs as 168 for two was transformed into 181 for seven.
Man-of-the-Match Broad, who had taken five first-innings wickets, enjoyed a purple patch of six wickets for 20 runs in 45 balls, with Tim Bresnan taking two for eight in 24.
David Warner and fellow left-hander Chris Rogers gave Australia a solid platform with an opening stand of 109 before first-innings century-maker Rogers edged off-spinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Trott at slip on 49.
Swann then had Usman Khawaja lbw for 21.
Warner, who missed the first two Tests of the series, both of which Australia lost, after being banned for punching home batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in June, looked in fine touch while making a 74-ball half-century that included a six off Swann.
But on 71, he was drawn forward to a Bresnan ball angled across him, and edged it to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Broad then dismissed Australia captain Michael Clarke for 21 with a superb delivery that came into the star batsman and clipped the top of off stump, before getting Steven Smith to play on after bottom-edging a hook.
Speaking after the match, England captain Alastair Cook said, “Stuart Broad was incredible – he bowled some jaffas out there.
“Before tea we didn’t get it right but we regrouped and Broady led that from the front. When he clicks he’s got everything – pace, movement and control. When those three click it is hard to face.”
Clarke had this to say, “Stuart Broad bowled a couple of outstanding spells and as soon as we lost Chris Rogers we found it difficult.
“We’ve got to play better than that – Chris and Davey (Warner) played exceptionally well but we couldn’t get over the line.
“Our bowlers have done a fantastic job throughout this series, Ryan Harris was outstanding and I feel really disappointed that I’ve let him down.”
Shane Watson, like Smith, was out for two as he fell in familiar fashion, lbw playing across his front pad, to Bresnan.
He reviewed Aleem Dar’s decision but, with technology indicating the ball would have clipped leg stump, the Pakistani umpire’s call was upheld.
The collapse continued as Brad Haddin, the last of the recognised batsmen, was lbw, moving across his stumps, to Broad for four.
Australia, understandably, challenged but with the Decision Review System indicating the ball would have just hit the top of leg stump, New Zealand umpire Tony Hill’s original verdict was confirmed and Australia were 181 for seven, with both sides having used up their reviews.
And when Broad had Ryan Harris lbw, Australia were exactly 100 runs shy of victory with just two wickets standing.
Broad bowled Nathan Lyon for eight and, after England took the extra half hour, ended the match when he had Peter Siddle hole out to James Anderson at mid-off.
“I was glad I could contribute,” Broad said.
“We had to regroup today and to get nine wickets in that period after tea was a special effort.”
Earlier, fast bowler Harris took a Test-best seven for 117 as England, who resumed on 234 for five, made 330 all out in their second innings.
Although Ian Bell could only add eight to his overnight 105, England’s total was bolstered by Bresnan’s dashing 45 and Swann’s unbeaten 30.
Queensland fast bowler Harris took four for 43 with the new ball on Monday after reducing England to 49 for three on Sunday.
His return, in his 15th Test, surpassed the 33-year-old’s previous innings best of six for 47 against England at Perth in 2010.
Harris struck twice in two deliveries with the new ball.
He first bowled Bell off the inside edge for 113, his highest score of the series after he made 109 in both England’s wins at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, to end a near five-hour innings of 210 balls which included 11 fours.
The fifth and final Test starts at The Oval in London on August 21. (AFP)