South Africa born batsmen
Craig Kieswetter and
Kevin Pietersen starred as England won their first major one-day title in a 7 wicket victory over Australia in the
World T20 final.
England, chasing 148 to win in 20 over, after reducing a formerly unbeaten Australian side at this tournament to eight for three, saw Kieswetter and Pietersen put on 111 for the second wicket at the Kensington Oval.
They finally won with three overs to spare when skipper
Paul Collingwood struck Shane Watson for a four as his side finished on 148 for three.
It was the first time England had won a major
international one-day event after losing in 3 World Cup finals (1979, 1987 and 1992) and the 2004 Champions Trophy.
England, who detained Australia to 147/6, had an early setback when Michael Lumb's out them seven for one.
But Kieswetter(63) and Pietersen(47) then conquered the
Australian bowlers. Pietersen, who faced 31 balls, with six and four fours, was out when he hoisted leg-spinner Steven Smith to David Warner on the long-off boundary line.
And, troublingly for England, 118 for two became 121 for three when Kieswetter was bowled by left-arm faster
Mitchell Johnson, having faced 49 balls, with two sixes and seven fours.
But Collingwood and
Eoin Morgan saw England home.
Beat in what was a first
World T20 final for both the Ashes rivals left an Australia side before unbeaten at the tournament still searching for the one major title that has so far eluded them.
Earlier, David Hussey's 59 kept Australia in the match during an innings where the next best score was Cameron White's 30.
Kieswetter, a former South Africa
Under-19 international, then struck medium-pacer Watson for two fours in as many balls
He later launched the all-rounder for a huge six over midwicket.
At the 10-over halfway mark, England were 73 for one compared to Australia's 47 for four.
Australia badly needed a breakthrough but, in Tait's comeback over, Pietersen drove him over his head for a boundary and then struck an even more impressive six high over long-off to bring up England's hundred.