 A brilliant century to Paul Collingwood has helped England recover from a top-order collapse to post a shock four-wicket victory in the first final of the Commonwealth Bank Series at the MCG.
Set 253 for victory after Australia lost its last six wickets for just 23 to squander a 138-run stand between Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting, England recovered from a fiery opening spell from Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken and a late stumble to scrape home with three balls remaining.
Collingwood, who made 120 not out off 133 balls for his second century of the week, was the architect of England's run chase, combining with Ian Bell, who made a vital 65, for a 133-run stand before adding a further 74 at nearly a run a ball with Andrew Flintoff.
Still needing 25 off the final three overs after Flintoff and Jamie Dalrymple fell in consecutive overs, England carved 12 off the 48th over from Shane Watson before Collingwood and Paul Nixon steered the tourists to a thrilling win. Sportal Australia innings
Gilchrist c Flintoff b Mahmood 5 (10)
Hayden c Mahmood b Dalrymple 82 (102)
Ponting c Collingwood b Panesar 75 (75)
Clarke run out 33 (39)
Hodge lbw b Panesar 5 (10)
Hussey c Nixon b Flintoff 17 (19)
Watson c Bell b Mahmood 9 (13)
Hogg c Bell b Flintoff 10 (11)
Lee run out 0 (5)
Bracken not out 3 (5)
McGrath b Flintoff 0 (2)
Extras 13 (4lb, 9w)
Total (all out, 48.3 overs) 252
FoW: 1-32 (Gilchrist, 5.3 ov), 2-170 (Ponting, 30.1 ov), 3-180 (Hayden, 33.1 ov), 4-196 (Hodge, 36.5 ov), 5-229 (Clarke 42.2 ov), 6-229 (Hussey 42.3 ov), 7-248 (Hogg, 46.1 ov), 8-248 (Lee, 46.6 ov), 9-250 (Watson, 47.4 ov), 10-252 (McGrath, 48.3 ov)
Bowling
Plunkett 10 - 0 - 56 - 0 (4w)
Mahmood 8 - 0 - 45 - 2 (2w)
Flintoff 9.3 - 1 - 41 - 3 (2w)
Panesar 10 - 0 - 44 - 2
Collingwood 4 - 0 - 21 - 0
Dalrymple 7 - 0 - 41 - 1 (1w)
England innings
Joyce c McGrath b Lee 6 (18)
Loye lbw b Lee 0 (6)
Bell b Lee 65 (90)
Strauss lbw b Bracken 0 (2)
Collingwood not out 120 (133)
Flintoff c Gilchrist b Watson 35 (36)
Dalrymple run out 3 (5)
Nixon not out 11 (10)
Extras 13 (3lb, 7w, 3nb)
Total (6 wickets, 49.3 overs) 253
FoW: 1-1 (Loye, 2.2 ov), 2-14 (Joyce, 4.6 ov), 3-15 (Strauss 5.4 ov), 4-148 (Bell, 12.6 ov), 5-222 (Flintoff, 45.2 ov), 6-225 (Dalrymple, 46.1 ov)
Bowling
Lee 10 - 0 - 41 - 3 (1nb, 3w)
Bracken 8.3 - 1 - 38 - 1
McGrath 10 - 0 - 53 - 0 (1nb)
Watson 8 - 0 - 51 - 1 (1nb)
Hogg 10 - 0 - 52 - 0 (2w)
Clarke 3 - 0 - 15 - 0 (2w)
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