England destroy Australia to lift Twenty20 trophy

It wasn't just a victory, it was an annihilation, and against Australia, too, the sworn enemy of English cricket. Yes, after 35 years of hurt and humiliation England have finally got their hands on a major cricket trophy. And in some style, thrashing Australia in Barbados in the final of the Twenty20 by seven wickets and with three overs to spare.

As ever with this England team it was a collective effort with contributions from all eleven players. Craig Kieswetter (63) and Kevin Pietersen (47) knocked off most of the runs but their job was helped by earlier efforts in the field.

England won the toss and captain Paul Collingwood invited the Aussies to bat first on a quick and lively wicket. Australia, hitherto unbeaten in the tournament, were looking to add the Twenty20 title to those of the World Cup and Champions Trophy, but things went wrong from the start.  

The big-hitting Shane Watson nicked a fizzer from Ryan Sidebottom in the first over and was sharply taken by Graeme Swann at first slip. One over later and David Warner was back in the hutch having been brilliantly run out by Michael Lumb. The third over brought the third wicket when Brad Haddin was given caught behind though replays suggested the ball had brushed his hip and nothing else.

Three down for eight runs and other sides might have crumbled but not Australia, and captain Michael Clarke and  David Hussey brought some order to the batting. But not for long. Collingwood produced a stunning catch to see off Clarke, but then Cameron White came to the crease and struck some lusty blows – 21 off one Michael Yardy over – before Stuart Broad held on to a skier way out in the deep.

Mike Hussey joined his brother in the middle and together they steered the Aussies to respectability with a 47-run partnership that left England requiring 148 if they were to win a trophy 35 years after the ICC introduced the World Cup as the sport's inaugural one-day competition.

They started badly with Lumb heading home in the second over after gifting a catch to mid-on. Out swaggered Kevin Pietersen and the fun began - for England. For the next hour he and Kieswetter made light work of the Australian attack, pulling and driving and slashing in a 100-partnership that took just 62 balls.

Pietersen fell for 47, caught on the boundary trying once more to clear the ropes, and though Kieswetter soon followed, forgetting to play a shot to a straight one from Mitchell Johnson when he was on 63, Collingwood and Eoin Morgan carried on the onslaught and saw England home with room to spare.

"When you want to be the best you have to beat the best," said a jubilant Collingwood afterwards. "We put them under a lot of pressure and the way KP [Kevin Pietersen] and Kieswetter attacked them we deserved that victory. The wicket played fantastically and that partnership was absolutely key for us. This is our first trophy and we're going to savour it and enjoy it."

And for Pietersen, voted Player of the Series, the triumph was just reward for a side that has transformed itself eleven months after losing to Holland in a Twenty20 fixture. "I'm so proud to be part of a dressing-room where the players work so hard," he said. "They love each other's success. This team is hungry for success. The more you play the more you win, the more of a habit it becomes. Barbados, Little England, what a great place!" ·