Australia are one victory away from a clean sweep in the Ashes series against England after beating them by five wickets in the fourth Test despite the tourists putting up a spirited fight. The expected final day formality turned into a gripping finish as England, who fought bravely through Michael Vaughan's 145 to take the Test into a fifth day, had the Aussies teetering at 90 for five and still 17 runs adrift of the target.
In the end Australia had five wickets to spare and victory in Thursday's New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground will secure Australia a a 5-0 Ashes series sweep, the first since Warwick Armstrong's men achieved the feat over England in Australia in 1920-21.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
