The Ashes: Fourth Test day five preview and predictions
Read our best bets for the final day's play in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
All the latest Ashes betting odds can be found on the Betway sportsbook.
The Ashes 4th Test - Day Five preview
England's hopes of winning the 2023 Ashes series were hampered by rain and a gutsy effort from Australia batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh on day four of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
When the weather forced an early end to the day's play, Australia had reached 214-5, still trailing England by 61 runs but with a good chance of escaping Manchester with a draw, which is priced up at 1/4.
None of England's first 16 Tests under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum ended in a draw but heavy rain is forecast for the final day at Old Trafford so the hosts, 11/4 for victory, could be frustrated.
Australia, who lead the series 2-1, would be delighted with a rain-assisted stalemate which would see them retain the Ashes going into next week's fifth Test at The Oval.
Tip
Australia Method of 6th Dismissal - Bowled @ 100/30
Labuschagne century holds up England's victory charge
The weather forecast for days four and five looked grim at the start of the fourth Test and England, trailing in the series, have done well to keep alive their chances of a victory in Manchester.
They raced to 592 in their first innings, opting to pile up the runs rather than declare and have an earlier crack at Australia, and that looked to have paid off when Mark Wood helped reduce the Aussies to 113-4 at the end of the third day.
No play was possible before lunch on day four but a couple of early wickets would have exposed Australia's tail. However, Labuschagne and Marsh dug in well on what is still a decent pitch to bat on and bad light meant England had to take off their fast bowlers and replace them with spinners Moeen Ali and Joe Root.
Labuschagne tucked into the slower bowlers to reach his first Test century in England but Root had him caught behind for 111, raising the hosts' hopes.
Rain intervened soon after Australia lost their fifth wicket and the betting suggests that Ben Stokes and his team will need a victory at The Oval to draw the series 2-2.
England bowlers should target stumps on final day
There were 30 overs bowled on day four, more than was expected given the weather outlook, so England will be hoping for enough gaps in the rain to keep the pressure on Australia on the final day.
Marsh, recalled by Australia for the third Test at Headingley, scored a century in Leeds, 51 in the first innings of this Test, and is unbeaten on 31 in the second innings.
England may feel they have a better chance of getting rid of the new man Cameron Green, who faced 15 balls for his three not out, and the sixth Australia wicket to be bowled in the method of dismissal market is worth a bet.
Three of England's top six batsmen were bowled in their innings, with Joe Root knocked over by one that kept horribly low, and Green has been prone to that kind of dismissal in the early stages of his Test career.
The all-rounder has been bowled in nine of his 36 innings, including both digs in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, and he missed a straight ball to be pinned lbw by Chris Woakes in the first innings of this match.
Tip
Australia Method of 6th Dismissal - Bowled @ 100/30