England won their first major overseas one-day tournament since 1997 as they beat Australia by 34 runs in the second match of the finals series in Sydney.
Paul Collingwood hit 70 in England's 246-8 before Liam Plunkett took three wickets in Australia's top order.
Three weather interruptions - and the regular loss of wickets - meant Australia's target was adjusted twice.
They ultimately needed 211 from 33 overs and finished on 152-8 from 27, Brad Hodge top-scoring with 49.
It was the first time in 14 years that Australia had lost in the finals of their home one-day series - and the first time England have won this particular tournament since 1986-87, when they also clinched the Ashes.
This series provided some unexpected consolation after England had been whitewashed 5-0 in the Test series.
Collingwood, who came into this match after back-to-back centuries, was named man of the finals series after another vital innings.
England needed to claim a fourth one-day international success on the trot to stop the best-of-three series going to a decider in Adelaide.
They started well, winning an important toss and reaching 79-1 after 18 overs as Mal Loye combined a variety of slog sweeps and off-side boundaries to reach 45 from 61 balls.
But the second of two breaks for rain saw England slump from 79-1 to 112-4
First, Loye called Ian Bell through for a single - but misjudged the run hopelessly and was out by yards.
Then, after Andrew Strauss had been caught behind off Bracken, a brilliant piece of work from Michael Hussey ended Bell's innings on 26 and England were stalling with less than half their overs remaining.
Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff (42) added a vital 97 before Brett Lee caught Flintoff off his own bowling.
They raised the score to 187 by the 40th over, then decided to attack.
But with Flintoff getting into top gear, he drilled a drive back at Lee, who had less than half a second to take a brilliant return catch.
Collingwood and Jamie Dalrymple were unable to press on as much as they would have wanted.
And Bracken then had Collingwood caught behind off an attempted reverse sweep with three overs remaining.
Glenn McGrath, making his final international appearance at his home ground, got a wicket with the last ball of the innings, Paul Nixon skying a catch to deep mid-wicket.
The match was evenly poised at the half-way stage.
As Australia began their run chase, Plunkett began nervously, with two wides in his first over and two boundaries conceded to Adam Gilchrist in his second.
Australia were scoring quickly when Sajid Mahmood's slower ball accounted for Matthew Hayden at the start of the fourth over.
And suddenly wickets began tumbling. Plunkett bowled a perfect outswinger at Ricky Ponting, who edged to Strauss at slip.
Then, immediately after the third rain break of the match, Plunkett struck a purple patch, aided by the floodlights and overcast conditions.
He bowled Gilchrist from around the wicket and had Michael Clarke caught at the wicket in the same over.
The pressure was maintained brilliantly by Flintoff whose first four overs cost just four runs - and produced the vital wicket of Hussey, another man taken at slip.
After the final rain break, everything was in England's favour but Hodge and Shane Watson briefly lifted Australia's hopes.
Then a moment of inspiration put the tourists firmly on top again as Dalrymple's stunning one-handed catch at backward point ended Watson's innings.
And Hodge too died by the sword as the home fans headed for the turnstiles.
There was not quite enough time for England to take the final two wickets, with the victory confirmed after the players came off the field with the rain returning.
But it did not matter - and Flintoff's side will head to the World Cup next month in confident mood.
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