Australia end England's winning run
England's record Twenty20 winning streak was ended at eight games after Australia secured a series-levelling four-run win in Melbourne.
Paul Collingwood's side were unable to chase down Australia's 147 for seven to suffer their first defeat in the shortest format of the game since their World Twenty20 success last May.
Spin duo Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy had restricted Australia after a quick start, claiming two for 19 apiece, to give England belief that they could seal another series win to follow their Ashes success. But on the same ground where the little urn was retained three weeks ago, Tim Bresnan was unable to hit the final ball from Brett Lee for a six that would have won the game.
Ian Bell immediately set England's chase in motion with a pair of back-foot drives to the cover rope in the first over from Shaun Tait. Bell dominated the opening stand with Steven Davies, hitting all four boundaries that helped them reach 50 from 38 balls.
The Warwickshire right-hander was first to fall, though, when he chopped onto his stumps attempting a heave off Mitchell Johnson (three for 29) for 39 from 30 balls. The left-arm seamer struck again three balls later when Kevin Pietersen thrashed a wide half-volley that Cameron White did well to hold at short cover.
Shane Watson claimed career-best figures of four for 15 in Adelaide and when he struck twice in quick succession to remove Collingwood (six) and Davies (29), both caught by David Warner at mid-off, England had lost four for 28.
Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright settled the chase with a stand of 23 before Wright was also caught down the ground off Tait. That left the tourists needing 36 from the last three overs and with the rate getting out of hand, Australia claimed the key wicket of Morgan (14).
With 18 needed from Lee's last over, Chris Woakes smashed a six to give England hope, but Bresnan could not deliver a similar blow when it was needed off the final ball.
Earlier, Aaron Finch, playing just his second game on his home ground at the MCG, was Australia's top scorer with an unbeaten 53 from 33 balls.
