England hung on for a gripping draw with just one wicket left in the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney on Sunday to deny Australia a 4-0 series lead.

No 11 batsman James Anderson safely played out a tense final over from leg-spinner Steve Smith as England ended on 270-9 in a heart-pumping finish.

It all came down to the last over of the Test with eight fielders crowding around the bat as Anderson fended off Smith’s spin.

Australia had looked set to claim a thrilling victory when they claimed the ninth wicket with Smith having Jack Leach caught in the slips by David Warner for 26.

But Anderson and fellow veteran paceman Stuart Broad played out the remaining two overs to give the beleaguered tourists a fighting draw after losing the Ashes series 3-0 inside 12 days.

Ben Stokes with a fighting 60, his second half-century of the match, and first-innings centurion Jonny Bairstow’s 41 held up the Australian victory charge.

But once both departed after tea, the Australians were relentless in taking the struggle down to the final over.

The final Test, to be played in Hobart as a day-night match, will get underway on Friday.

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