BBC SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | England seal memorable win

Fourth Test, Headingley: Australia 447 and 176-4 dec. England 309 and 315-4

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England recorded a memorable victory over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

In front of a virtual full house, Mark Butcher guided the hosts to a final day target of 315 with an innings of 173 not out.

And in doing so England became only the 13th team to record a total of 315 or more for victory in the final innings in 120 years of Test cricket.

Nasser Hussain throws the bat
Hussain throws the bat
Butcher was the mainstay of the day having come to the wicket after Mike Atherton's dismissal on the third ball of the day and he led the charge to over 100 runs in the opening two sessions of the day.

Although he rode his luck on occasions he remained the embodiment of England's positive attitude throughout the day.

On 97 he was almost becalmed in mid-wicket when Hussain refused a single, and he also flashed a number of shots through and over Australia's predatory slip cordon.

But as the Australian bowlers felt the full force of England's ambition in preventing another defeat, their fielders also lost their discipline at times as they searched for a vital breakthrough.

Butcher dominated the day but was given valuable support by Nasser Hussain when they combined for a third wicket partnership of 181.

Hussain made 55 before he was adjudged to have edged a leg-side delivery from Jason Gillespie.

Mark Ramprakash took over from Hussain in providing his Surrey team-mate with valuable support, but by the time he was dismissed an air of inevitability had descended on Headingley.

The party atmosphere in the closing overs was in stark contrast to the mood at the start of the day.

Mark Butcher
Butcher celebrates as he scores the winning runs
Those clad in green and gold were celebrating as Australia claimed the key early wickets of both Atherton and Marcus Trescothick.

McGrath dismissed Atherton with a virtually unplayable delivery and Trescothick was soon beating a similar path back to the pavilion.

But their departures only led the way for Butcher and Hussain to take the attack to Australia.

Butcher may not be Botham and Headingley 2001 may not live in the memory as long as 1981, but it will give England heart as they head down to London for the fifth Test which starts on Thursday.

England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Usman Afzaal, Alec Stewart, Alex Tudor, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough, Alan Mullally.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Umpires: DR Shepherd & S Venkataraghavan (Ind).