Craig Kieswetter scored a cracking half-century as England thrashed Australia by seven wickets to win the ICC World Twenty20 in Barbados, on Sunday.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, later named man of the match, smashed 63 from 49 balls, with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes, and added 111 runs in 68 balls for the second wicket with Pietersen, who scored 47 from 31 balls, to help England secure their first global trophy.
After another fine knock Pietersen, who amassed 248 runs from seven matches, was adjudged man of the tournament.
England cruised to 148 for three in 17 overs to win with 18 deliveries to spare after restricting Australia to 147 for six in their 20 overs.
David Hussey top-scored for Australia with a 54-ball 59, and Cameron White hit 30 from 19 balls, but the winners of the 50-over World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy never really recovered after losing a few early wickets.
Ryan Sidebottom was England's best bowler, claiming two for 26 in his four overs, while Graeme Swann took one for 17.
This is England's first major title win in the 35 years since the International Cricket Council began global events. Australia's wait for the World Twenty20 title, the only one to elude them, continues.
Australia were reeling at 45 for four at one stage before David Hussey's composed innings of 59 from 54 balls, inclusive of two boundaries and two sixes, helped post a competitive total.
Cameron White led Australia's charge towards the end as they hit 55 runs in the last five overs.
Sidebottom put England on top early as he started with a wicket in the first over of the match after England elected to bowl.
Shane Watson (2) lashed out at a short, wide delivery but only managed to edge it behind to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter. The ball popped out from the keeper's glove but Graeme Swann at slip did well to hold on and send the Australian opener back.
Another success came England's way in the next over when David Warner was run out for 2.
Michael Clarke, who came in at the fall of Watson's wicket, tapped the ball to cover and went for a quick single, but Michael Lumb swooped on the ball and hit the stumps at the bowler's end with an under arm throw, catching Warner short of his ground.
Then Sidebottom struck again, having Brad Haddin (1) brilliantly caught by Kieswetter down the leg side.
After six overs, Australia were 24 for three, their lowest in the Powerplay overs, having hit just one boundary. Sidebottom had created early problems, claiming nine in three overs in his first spell.
Clarke got Australia's second boundary of the innings when he swatted a slower delivery from Tim Bresnan through mid-on in the seventh over.
Once again, England wasted no time in introducing their spinners. It was Graeme Swann who caused Australia further grief when he claimed the big wicket of captain Clarke. The right-hander made 27 from as many balls before he was brilliantly caught by Paul Collingwood at short midwicket, as Australia were reduced to 47 for four after ten overs.
Finally, Australia decided it was time to counter attack and Michael Yardy's third over went for 21 runs. David Hussey broke the shackles by slamming the left-arm spinner for a six over midwicket. White hit a full toss down the ground for a four followed by a six over midwicket and another boundary over the bowler's head.
White maintained the tempo with another couple of boundaries to take Australia to 92 for four after 15 overs.
England took a gamble by introducing Luke Wright into the attack and he claimed the vital wicket of White, who was caught by Stuart Broad, after a quick 30 from 19 balls.
Australia continued making good progress as 17 runs came from Bresnan's last over, with Mike Hussey getting a boundary and brother David hitting a six over midwicket.
The two brothers then bagged a boundary each in the next over from Broad as Australia reached 128 for five in 18 overs.
David Hussey completed his half-century off 49 balls with a double down the ground off Sidebottom in the penultimate over. But he was run out in the final over after a superb knock of 59 from 54 balls, attempting a tight second run.
Mike Hussey wasn't able to repeat his last-over heroics from the previous match, and finished with 17 from 10 balls, as Australia put up 147 for six in their 20 overs.
It was a splendid turnaround from the Aussie batsmen, as they hit 55 runs in the last five overs. England's bowlers showed great control and never allowed Australia to break free.
Swann was the most impressive, taking one for 17 in four overs, while Sidebottom claimed two for 26.
Pacer Shaun Tait gave Australia an early breakthrough when he dismissed England opener Michael Lumb, having him caught at mid-on for two, as he tried to flick Shaun Tait through the leg side in the second over.
Kieswetter scored the first boundary of the innings, flicking Nannes through the leg side; he then drove another one through cover for the same result.
Kevin Pietersen cracked a full delivery from Mitchell Johnson to bring up his first boundary and repeated the dose again in the pacer's next over. He was in no mood to relent as he charged down the wicket to leg-spinner Steven Smith and drove him through cover for his third four.
Watson also suffered in his next over when Kieswetter hit him for back-to-back boundaries through the point region. Kieswetter continued his rough treatment in Watson's next over with a huge six over midwicket and a boundary through thirdman to take the total to 89 for one after 11 overs.
Pietersen maintained the momentum in the next over slamming Tait down the ground for a boundary and a six. In the same over, Kieswetter brought up his half-century from 40 balls, inclusive of six boundaries and a six.
England seemed in a rush to finish off the match, as Kieswetter cut Nannes over short thirdman for a boundary followed by a one-handed six over square leg off the next delivery.
After 13 overs, England were sitting pretty at 118 for one, needing just 30 from the remaining 42 deliveries.
But Australia fought back with two quick wickets, Pietersen and Kieswetter falling in successive overs after a blazing partnership of 111 in 68 balls for the second wicket.
Pietersen holed out Smith to the fielder at long-off after a cracking innings of 47 from 31 balls. Kieswetter also departed in the next over when he gave himself room but was outdone by Johnson, who bowled a full delivery to send his stumps crashing after a splendid knock of 63 from 49 balls, inclusive of seven boundaries and two sixes.
Just as the pressure was beginning to build, Eoin Morgan calmed nerves in the English camp when slog swept Smith for a six.
Watson's nightmare continued as Collingwood pulled him over midwicket for another maximum to make it five runs needed from 21 balls.
Collingwood then pulled Watson for a four and took a single to give England victory.
England cruised to 148 for three in 17 overs and won by an emphatic seven-wicket margin with three overs to spare.