Australia lose World T20 to England

The England team celebrates after Australia crashed to a 7-wicket loss in the World Twenty20 final.

AAP

AUSTRALIA'S cricketers crashed to a seven-wicket defeat against England in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados on Sunday.

Michael Clarke's side had gone into the final without a defeat in the Caribbean tournament but were never in the hunt after losing 3-8 in the first 2.1 overs.

David Hussey played a determined innings of 59 to lead Australia's recovery for a total of 6-147 but England were untroubled, reaching 3-151 in 17 overs.

South African-born duo Kevin Pietersen (47) and Craig Kieswetter (63) added 117 for England's second wicket in a match-winning partnership.

Kieswetter was named man of the match and Pietersen, who missed a game during the tournament to attend the birth of his son in London, was player of the series with 248 runs at an average of 62.00.

"Losing those three wickets early certainly didn't help us and put a lot of pressure on our middle order," Clarke said.

"But we did well to scrape to 140-odd. In the end we were probably 30 runs short.

"But in saying that, the way England came out and batted we were probably 50 runs short.

"That's the way it goes. We got beaten by a better team today."

After Shaun Tait removed Michael Lumb (2) in the second over, leg-spinner Steven Smith and left-armer Mitchell Johnson dismissed Pietersen and Kieswetter in the 14th and 15th overs.

But England settled with skipper Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 12 including the winning boundary and Eoin Morgan 15 not out.

Collingwood had invited Australia to bat first and left-armer Ryan Sidebottom (2-26) claimed Shane Watson (2) and Brad Haddin (1) while David Warner (2) was run out.

Clarke (27) chipped a catch to rival skipper Paul Collingwood at 4-45 in the 10th over.

Cameron White crunched 30 from 19 balls, adding 50 in a crucial fifth-wicket partnership with David Hussey who was dropped by Stuart Broad at mid-wicket on 25.

David Hussey's 54-ball knock included two fours and two sixes. The right-hander was run out in the final over after a 47-run partnership with brother Mike who was unbeaten on 17.

Spinner Graeme Swann was economical with 1-17 from his four overs.

Australia would take little comfort in the fact this was a step forward for the team after failing to reach the final in two previous World T20 events.

It's England's first win in a major limited-overs trophy event, after making the decider in the Champions Trophy once and the World Cup three times.