England celebrates victory ©Getty Images / Cricket Australia  -  (SNNI) England has stunned Australia by claiming a 2-0 win in the Commonwealth Bank Series finals after clinching a nail-biting 35-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

England made 8-246 and Australia's target was twice revised due to rain - to 227 off 41 overs and then 211 off 33.

The rain held off for England to bowl the 20 overs required to constitute a match so although the match was abandoned after 27 overs with Australia on 8-152, England celebrated victory because Australia was 35 runs behind the par score.

It is the first time Australia has failed to win the home tri-series since 2002 and the first time it has been beaten in the finals series since the West Indies won in 1993.

Paul Collingwood (70) missed out on a third straight century but put on a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 97 off 104 balls with Andrew Flintoff (42).

Liam Plunkett then did the early damage with the ball, taking 3-43, before Collingwood claimed 2-26 to clinch the Player-of-the-Finals award and seal a remarkable turnaround after Australia won its first six matches of the series.

It was not the result Glenn McGrath had hoped for in his last game at his home ground although he claimed a wicket with his last ball at the SCG to finish with 2-41.

Adam Gilchrist (20) made a quickfire start to Australia's reply but the first wicket fell in the fourth over, Matthew Hayden driving Sajid Mahmood to Collingwood, who took a fine low catch at short extra cover.

In came Ricky Ponting, yet the Australian skipper made just six before Liam Plunkett drew an edge the following over, Andrew Strauss also taking a fine low catch.

Another downpour - much heavier than the two early in England's innings - threatened to put the match in jeopardy with Australia on 2-39, but play resumed and with nine overs being lost, Plunkett was not hanging around.

From the very first ball he hit Gilchrist's off-stump with a superb in-swinger from round the wicket and Collingwood dropped a tough chance at second slip before Michael Clarke was caught behind from the last ball of the over for a duck.

Flintoff then got in on the act in the 12th over, Mike Hussey also out for a duck after edging to Strauss, and although the rain returned during the 17th over with Australia on 5-79, it eased off to ensure England could seal the match.

Brad Hodge (49) and Shane Watson (37) gave Australia a glimmer of hope but that was gone when Jamie Dalrymple took a brilliant one-handed diving catch at backward point to dismiss Watson in the 21st over. Hogg (10) and Hodge were then dismissed as England eased home.

McGrath was given a rousing welcome when he came into the Australian attack and needed just seven balls to strike, Hodge taking a superb diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Ed Joyce (15).

Rain stalled England's progress and Mal Loye (45) was run out by Hayden in the 19th over from the first ball following the second break.

Strauss followed the next over for six, edging behind off Nathan Bracken (2-38) before Hussey ran out Bell (26) in the 26th over to leave England 4-112.

However, Collingwood and Flintoff then rekindled the partnership that set England on course for victory in the first final, keeping the scoreboard ticking over to take England past 150 in the 33rd over.
Collingwood's second boundary brought up his 50 off 67 balls in the 42nd over, and the next ball England passed 200.

Flintoff was heading towards his half-century before Brett Lee made the breakthrough by taking a sharp caught-and-bowled opportunity in the 43rd over.

Collingwood and Dalrymple surrendered their wickets late on before Paul Nixon lofted McGrath to Hodge in the deep.