Australia openers start strongly in pursuit of Ashes glory

Australia openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja hit unbeaten fifties as the tourists reached 135/0 on a rain-shortened Sunday in pursuit of a mammoth target of 384 runs to win the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

They kept Stuart Broad waiting for a farewell wicket after the England fast-bowling great made a shock announcement on Saturday that he was retiring following this match.

Warner was 58 not out and fellow left-hander Khawaja unbeaten on 69 when rain at 14:41 stopped play on the fourth day.

Australia need 249 more runs to complete a 3-1 series win and a first Ashes campaign triumph in England since 2001.

If Australia do manage to reach that target, it will be the eighth-highest fourth-innings total to win any Test and the second-highest in England, behind Australia's 404/3 at Headingley in 1948 when Arthur Morris made 182 and batting great Don Bradman an unbeaten 173.

It would also be a new ground record: the highest successful fourth-innings chase in a Test at The Oval is England's 263-9 against their arch-rivals in 1902.

"It was an outstanding start from our openers," Australia batting coach Michael Di Venuto told reporters after stumps.

"There's a lot of (Australian) guys who have been on Ashes series over here (England) in the past...We are in a great position, for some of those boys to get that on their resume.

England batting coach Marcus Trescothick, however, insisted the hosts remained in confident mood.

"We're still pretty positive about the job we've got to do," he said.

"They (Australia) have had a good start with the bat, and seen off the new ball.

"A couple of early ones (wickets) in the morning and suddenly we're right in the mix again.

Fast-medium bowler Broad has dismissed Warner 17 times in Test cricket.

Neithe