The ease of England’s success made a mockery of previous failures, as Craig Kieswetter and fellow South African-born batsman Kevin Pietersen’s stand of 111 helped them cruise past Australia’s 147 for six with three full overs to spare.
Kieswetter (63) hit six fours and a six in his 40-ball 50 and Pietersen, still on a high after flying home mid-tournament to witness the birth of his first child, was almost as dominant in a run chase which became
a no-contest long before captain Paul Collingwood clubbed the winning runs.Both of England’s second-wicket pair got out before the end, allowing Collingwood to shepherd his team to the previously elusive silverware. Australia, who were unbeaten in this tournament until yesterday, stumbled to eight for three in the third over after being put in on a pacy pitch.
David Hussey (59) oversaw a well-crafted recovery. But England had taken a telling advantage, and were in no mood to let it slip this time against the old enemy.
Hussey shared a fifth-wicket stand of 50 with Cameron White and also combined to good effect with his brother, Michael, to help add 55 in the last five overs.
But the resulting total never looked enough.
England’s only moments of discomfort came with an early departure of their own – Michael Lumb spearing a catch to mid-on off Shaun Tait – and then an embarrassing five-minute delay as groundstaff struggled to fix a glitch with a sightscreen before Pietersen and Kieswetter got to work on Australia’s total.
Late on, Pietersen holed out to David Warner off Steve Smith and Kieswetter was clean bowled by Mitchell Johnson.
It made little difference, though, as Collingwood and Eoin Morgan completed a simple task with minimum fuss.
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