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Memorable title triumph for England S. Dinakar Kieswetter and Pietersen fashion a splendid chase to tame the Aussies — Photo: AFP
JOY UNBOUND: England's cricketers converge on their captain, Paul Collingwood (second Bridgetown: Defying odds, England ambushed Australia by seven wickets to win its first title in an ICC Global event at the Kensington Oval here on Sunday. Chasing 148, England outplayed Australia with three overs to spare to triumph in the ICC World Twenty20. The side has been professional and was also ruthless. The bowlers, led by left-arm paceman Ryan Sidebottom, set up the victory. Then intrepid opener Craig Kieswetter (63 off 49), who was declared ‘Man-of-The Match', and the inspiring Kevin Pietersen (47 off 31) took the match away from Australia with a 111-run partnership for the second wicket. Both were dismissed late in the game but, by then, the verdict was not in doubt. Skipper Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan closed out the contest clinically. In a big game, the Aussie bowling and fielding wilted. England was emotional in its celebrations. — PHOTO: AFP
FINE KNOCK: Craig Kieswetter came up with a free-stroking 63 to guide England to a famous victory. Success straightaway Australia had success straightaway when Michael Lumb, clipping Shaun Tait uppishly was held at mid-wicket. In walked Kevin Pietersen. England regrouped. When Dirk Nannes bowled a fuller length, he was cover-driven and flicked for boundaries by the attacking and quick-footed Craig Kieswetter. The free-stroking Kieswetter cashed in on fuller length deliveries; Tait was bravely driven over the covers. Pietersen had his moment of uncertainty against the speedy Nannes. He created room on the off-side but found a yorker-length ball thudding into his pads. However, a cover-drive on the up against left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson underlined his quality. The England total was 44 for one after the six Power Play overs. Pietersen, settling down, was looking increasingly dangerous. He sashayed down the track to ease Johnson down the ground. His batting has the rare blend of strong back-footed play, the ability to use his feet to shimmy down the pitch with wristy sub-continental flair. He simmers with aggression; wants to dominate. His cricket oozes belief and confidence. So quickly do his feet move that the bowlers' length is disrupted. Consequently their line suffers. He is an Englishman with the attitude of an Aussie. Gradually, the hunter became the hunted. The England zeroed in on Shane Watson, the weak link, with Kieswetter dismantling the Aussie paceman with strikes that were chancy but effective. When Tait returned, Pietersen, his footwork precise, head still and balance perfect, smacked him over his head. Thing of beauty Pietersen's back-swing is a thing of beauty. Crucially, he was picking the length early and was ready with his response. When Tait bowled a full-length scorcher, Pietersen, effortlessly, eased the ball over the long-off ropes. It was a stunning strike. On a bright, sunny afternoon, England, perhaps influenced by the rousing Australian chase in the last-four duel against Pakistan, opted to field. Key batsman Shane Watson slashed at a rising ball, angling across, from Sidebottom in the first over. The 'keeper Kieswetter could not latch on to the offering but Greame Swann was quick to pouch the deflection. Australia was just 24 for three after the Power Play overs. England has contained and struck during an extremely important phase of the match. Michael Clarke put a price on his wicket. The Australian captain is nimble-footed and his duel against off-spinner Swann made compelling viewing. Booming strokes Then the in-form Cameron White cut loose against Yardy with booming strokes over the straight field and the mid-wicket region. David Hussey earned a reprieve at 25 when Broad misjudged a skier at mid-on; Tim Bresnan was the bowler to suffer. Broad, soon, held on to a looping ball when White (30 off 19) attempted to biff paceman Luke Wright. David Hussey continued to torment England. And his brother, Miracle Man Michael Hussey, drove and flicked with a surgeon's precision. David Hussey's enterprising innings (59 off 54 balls) in a pressure situation concluded when he was run out going for a second run in the final over. Australia: S. Watson c Swann b Sidebottom 2 (3b), D. Warner (run out) 2 (4b), M. Clarke c Collingwood b Swann 27 (27b, 2x4), B. Haddin c Kieswetter b Sidebottom 1 (2b), D. Hussey (run out) 59 (54b, 2x4, 2x6), C. White c Broad b Wright 30 (19b, 4x4, 1x6), M. Hussey (not out) 17 (10b, 2x4), S. Smith (not out) 1 (2b); Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-1, w-4): 8. Total (for six wickets in 20 overs): 147. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-7, 3-8, 4-45, 5-95, 6-142. England bowling: Sidebottom 4-0-26-2, Bresnan 4-0-35-0, Broad 4-0-27-0, Swann 4-0-17-1, Yardy 3-0-34-0, Wright 1-0-5-1. England: M. Lumb c D. Hussey b Tait 2 (4b), C. Kieswetter b Johnson 63 (49b, 7x4, 2x6), K. Pietersen c Warner b Smith 47 (31b, 4x4, 1x6), P. Collingwood (not out) 12 (5b, 1x4, 1x6), E. Morgan (not out) 15 (13b, 1x6); Extras (lb-1, w-8): 9. Total (for three wickets in 17 overs): 148. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-118, 3-121. Australia bowling: Nannes 4-0-29-0, Tait 3-0-28-1, Johnson 4-0-27-1, Smith 3-0-21-1, Watson 3-0-42-0 . Printer friendly page
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have defeated  in the final of the  to win the tournament. England won by 7 wickets at the , , Barbados to lift the World Cup. A 111 run partnership between , the man of the match and , the man of the tournament, helped them in chasing down the target of 148 runs set by Australia.

England won the toss and opted to . Australia scored 147 runs, losing 6 wickets in their twenty overs.  was the top scorer, getting 59 runs. Australia scored only 47 runs for 4 wickets in their first ten overs. David Hussey and  added 22 runs in the thirteenth over, thus helping their team to get to 147 for 6 in their innings. For England, Ryan Sidebottom took two wickets for 26 runs in four overs.

Early in England's innings,  of Australia took the wicket of  of England, when the latter was caught by David Hussey at mid-wicket.  of England came when Lumb got out, and helped England to reach 44 runs in the six  overs. The partnership between Pietersen and Kieswetter helped their team to reach the target of 148 runs in seventeen overs, with three overs in hand.

England captain  told the media  that he thought "belief had been the key." "As soon as we got the squad together, seeing how much power we have in the squad, I know that is all on paper but we could tell that we had a lot of potential," he commented.

"I think a lot of credit goes to every single player in the dressing room to have the confidence to go out there and really give it their best shots and have no regrets. I think we have done that throughout the tournament and it has certainly paid off," he noted.

For England, this is the first victory in a  as they had never won a single one-day or T20 World Cup or the  tournament till this victory. In this connection,  Collingwood said: "this is right up there, with the best," adding "to be the first England team to win a 'World Cup' is very special. We knew it was a ."

Meanwhile, Australian captain  admitted his disappointment at the result. He conceded that his performance was poor, saying, "There's no doubt the selectors will need to have a look at my performances. I certainly know they haven't been up to scratch through this whole tournament and probably in Twenty20 cricket in general. I'm sure the selectors will sit down and have a look and if I'm not the right guy for No 3 and the captaincy then they'll make that decision"

Newly elected UK  David Cameron praised the English team. "Congratulations to Paul Collingwood and the England Twenty20 team on becoming world champions for the first time with a magnificent victory over Australia. Let's hope this marks the start of a great summer of sport for England," he said. 

The   commented: "I'm absolutely delighted England have won the World Twenty20. They have played exciting and intelligent cricket and are worthy winners."

=== Scorecard ===
'''Toss:''' England won, and chose to field first.














'''Fall of wickets:''' 1-2 (Watson, 0.3 ov), 2-7 (Warner, 1.5 ov), 3-8 (Haddin, 2.1 ov), 4-45 (Clarke, 9.2 ov), 5-95 (White, 15.4 ov), 6-142 (DJ Hussey, 19.2 ov)

'''Did not bat:''' Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes




















'''Fall of wickets:'''1-7 (Lumb, 1.5 ov), 2-118 (Pietersen, 13.1 ov), 3-121 (Kieswetter, 14.1 ov)

'''Did not bat:''' Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Michael Yardy, Greamme Swann, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom









'''England:''' , , , , , , , , , , , 

'''Australia:''' , , , , , , , , , , 

'''Man of the match:'''  (England)

'''Umpires:'''  (Pakistan) and  (West Indies)
'''TV Umpire:'''  (New Zealand)
'''Match Referee:'''  (Sri Lanka)
'''Reserve Umpire:'''  (South Africa)