Sport

Rain washes out day four of final Ashes Test

Ian Bell, with 29 to his name, and debutant Chris Woakes (15) due to resume on Sunday

Pay was abandoned for the day during day four of the 5th Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at the Oval. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Pay was abandoned for the day during day four of the 5th Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at the Oval. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Sat Aug 24 2013 - 18:05

The predicted rain arrived to wash out day four of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Not a ball was able to be bowled on Saturday with umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Aleem Dar finally calling off proceedings at 4pm.

England hold a 3-0 lead in the series and, with the urn safe once again, the hosts all but shut down the game on day three, responding defensively to Australia's first innings total of 492-9 declared.

They crawled to 247-4 by stumps, Joe Root (68) and Kevin Pietersen (50) both registering half-centuries, as just 215 runs were added in 98.3 overs.

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Ian Bell will be due to resume on Sunday with 29 to his name alongside Warwickshire colleague Chris Woakes, who is 15 not out on debut.