Warner and Khawaja hold firm as Australia begin big run chase

LONDON :Australia set about chasing down their target of 384 by reaching 75 without loss by lunch on a gloomy fourth day of the final Ashes test at The Oval on Sunday, with David Warner (30) and Usman Khawaja (39) keeping the score ticking over steadily.

Stuart Broad, who announced his plan to retire the previous night, and Jimmy Anderson, on his 41st birthday, opened the bowling after ending England's second innings together, with Broad smashing the final ball of his batting career for six.

Broad very nearly claimed the wicket of Warner for the 18th time in tests when the opener edged a ball in the fifth over to Ben Duckett in the slips, but the ball landed just short of the fielder.

Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Joe Root all joined the attack for spells as the floodlights came on under a heavily overcast sky, but all were unable to break through the openers' defences.

Anderson came closest shortly before the break, finding a tiny bit of reverse spin to Khawaja but the batter narrowly avoided nicking the ball to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

Broad's final ball of his batting career, before England were bowled out for 395, was the 55th six of his test career - putting him fifth on the all-time list of English six-hitters in tests - and came just before Anderson was trapped lbw by Todd Murphy to end the innings.

England had batted with great intent on Saturday, with Zak Crawley (73), Root (91) and Bairstow (78) helping to build the score as Australia's bowlers struggled to restrict the flow of runs.

No team has ever chased down more than 263 at The Oval - a record set by England against Australia back in 1902 - although 10 sides have scored more than 300 on their way to draws at the south London ground.

Australia have retained the