England win World Twenty20 final
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 17 (AP): England won the World Twenty20 for its first world cricket title, beating Australia by seven wickets in Sunday's final after Craig Kieswetter hit 63 off 49 balls and Kevin Pietersen 47 off 31 deliveries.The pair added 111 off 68 balls as England romped to its victory target of 148-3 in only 17 overs at Kensington Oval. Kieswetter smashed seven fours and two sixes, while Pietersen, later voted the player of the tournament, struck four fours and a six.
Australia was earlier limited to 147-6 off 20 overs despite David Hussey's 59 off 54 balls after his team had slumped to 8-3 off 13 balls.
Left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom led England with 2-26 off four overs while offspinner Graeme Swann claimed 1-17 off four.
England's pursuit received an early setback when Michael Lumb dragged an on-drive off Shaun Tait to David Hussey at mid-on to make it 7-1. But Kieswetter and Pietersen, both South Africa-born, quickly put the team on top with some wide-ranging stroke play.
The 22-year-old Kieswetter was particularly fluent through the off side and brought up his maiden Twenty20 international fifty off 40 balls.
Pietersen fell in the 14th over, holing out to long-off.
Kieswetter fell in the next over, losing his off stump to Mitchell Johnson.
But Eoin Morgan hit 15 not out and captain Paul Collingwood made an unbeaten 12, including the winning runs, to spark wild celebrations.
Earlier, Hussey put on stands of 50 with Cameron White, who smashed 30 off 19 balls, and 47 with older brother Michael Hussey, who hit 17 off 10 balls.
David Hussey, who had one chance to Stuart Broad when 25, was run out in the final over after hitting two fours and two sixes in 54 balls.
Australia was earlier limited to 147-6 off 20 overs despite David Hussey's 59 off 54 balls after his team had slumped to 8-3 off 13 balls.
Left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom led England with 2-26 off four overs while offspinner Graeme Swann claimed 1-17 off four.
England's pursuit received an early setback when Michael Lumb dragged an on-drive off Shaun Tait to David Hussey at mid-on to make it 7-1. But Kieswetter and Pietersen, both South Africa-born, quickly put the team on top with some wide-ranging stroke play.
The 22-year-old Kieswetter was particularly fluent through the off side and brought up his maiden Twenty20 international fifty off 40 balls.
Pietersen fell in the 14th over, holing out to long-off.
Kieswetter fell in the next over, losing his off stump to Mitchell Johnson.
But Eoin Morgan hit 15 not out and captain Paul Collingwood made an unbeaten 12, including the winning runs, to spark wild celebrations.
Earlier, Hussey put on stands of 50 with Cameron White, who smashed 30 off 19 balls, and 47 with older brother Michael Hussey, who hit 17 off 10 balls.
David Hussey, who had one chance to Stuart Broad when 25, was run out in the final over after hitting two fours and two sixes in 54 balls.