England clinch first World Cup

The ease of England's success in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 made a mockery of previous failures, as Craig Kieswetter and 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 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 appropriately shepherd his team to the previously elusive silverware.

Australia, hitherto unbeaten in this tournament, stumbled disastrously 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, and in the end England made it seem woefully short.

Captain Paul Collingwood said the victory rivalled the 2005 and 2009 Ashes Test series successes over Australia. "It's right up there, it's got to be.

"This is our first World Cup ever and the boys deserve it.

"We've put a lot of hard work and effort in and the boys are absolutely thrilled we came out today and put that performance in."

Pietersen was named man of the tournament after scoring 248 runs, including 47 in the final. "It's been a pretty interesting week for me," said Pietersen, who flew back to London last weekend and became a father for the first time on Monday before returning to the Caribbean.

"I had a little kid on Monday and this trophy here. But this trophy goes to all the lads.

"They support each other and share each other's success. The more you play, the more you win and the more it becomes a habit, like the great Australians."

England's only minor moments of discomfort came with an early departure of opener Michael Lumb who speared a catch to mid-on off Shaun Tait, and then an embarrassing five-minute hiatus for the organisers as groundstaff struggled to fix a glitch with the sightscreen.

Kieswetter returned to crunch the very next ball, from Dirk Nannes, past cover for four. Pietersen soon showed he was once again at the top of his form yet still had to cede centre stage to his fellow South Africa-born batsman. Australia had no answer, hastening their defeat with some sloppy work in the field and occasionally ill-directed bowling.

With the match as good as won, Pietersen got underneath a big hit at Steven Smith to hole out to David Warner's ultra-safe hands, and Kieswetter went in bizarre circumstances, lunging away to leg to give himself room but leaving himself unable to reach a delivery from Mitchell Johnson which clattered into off and middle-stump.

It made little difference, though, as Collingwood and Eoin Morgan completed a simple task with minimum fuss and to much adulation from a sell-out crowd.

England had a dream start, winning the toss and choosing to bowl, with

Ryan Sidebottom making Shane Watson fence a chance to wicketkeeper Kieswetter, who could only parry but straight into the hands of Graeme Swann at first slip. Lumb then kept his nerve as Australia apparently lost theirs, Warner stranded by an under-armed direct hit from cover after Michael Clarke had called him through for an unwise, stop-start single.

Brad Haddin went for the addition of just one more dicey run into the off-side when he was given out caught behind by Billy Doctrove. It was a superb diving catch down the leg-side by Kieswetter, but Haddin was less impressed, eventually walking off in stunned disbelief, pointing to his hip.

In the absence of any boundaries Clarke, in particular, could only get off strike with sharp and potentially risky singles – until Sidebottom strayed in line to the Australia captain at the start of the fifth over. But that was the only four in a powerplay which brought Australia their tournament worst total of 24 for three after six overs.