England ended a run of 35 years without winning a global tournament with a seven-wicket victory over their oldest rivals Australia in the final of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in Barbados.

They did so in fine style, restricting a powerful Australian batting line-up to a score of 147 for six and with Craig Kieswetter hitting 63 and Kevin Pietersen 47, England got home with three overs to spare to confirm an emphatic win. Kieswetter and Pietersen came together early after Michael Lumb (2) chipped Shaun Tait to Hussey at mid-on and the pair put on 111 for the second wicket, hitting 11 fours and three sixes between them as Australia failed to cope with a confident assault on the victory target.

Their stand was ended when Kieswetter, at the crease for 49 balls was bowled by Mitchell Johnson in slightly bizarre fashion when, after backing away in order to manufacture a shot, he ended up leaving the ball onto his stumps. Pietersen, who faced 31 balls, departed in more usual circumstances when he skied leg-spinner Steven Smith to David Warner in the deep. The possibility of a late collapse was then eliminated as Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan continued to play positively, Morgan belting Smith over midwicket for a maximum and Collingwood getting off the mark with a six. He then won the game by driving Shane Watson down the ground to spark wild celebrations among England players, coaching staff and fans around the world.

Earlier, David Hussey scored 59 to drive Australia to a score of 147 for six and give them a chance of victory. England won the toss and chose to bowl first and quickly had Australia in trouble with early wickets but Hussey, Cameron White (30) and Michael Hussey (17 not out) helped them reach a competitive score. Ryan Sidebottom took two early wickets, having Watson caught by Graeme Swann at slip after he was initialy spilled by Kieswetter for two and then having Brad Haddin superbly snaffled by the wicket-keeper down the leg-side.

Warner was run out by a Lumb direct hit and Michael Clarke made a run-a-ball 27 before he was well caught by Collingwood as Swann bowled superbly to claim one for 17 as Australia slipped to 45 for four. Hussey then powered his way to 59 in 54 balls with two fours and two sixes and put on 50 with White for the fifth wicket and he then added 47 with brother Michael for the sixth before he was run out attempting a second run in the closing stages of an innings that never really got going. 147 represented a challenge, particularly in a final, but England completed a dream run with an assured performance and once Pietersen and Kieswetter got going, they never looked like letting Australia back into the match.

Match report courtesy www.cricketworld.com.