Now Australia's cricketers understand the fuss about Kevin Pietersen.

England's one-day batting sensation stole victory from the Australians in their tri-series match at Bristol's County Ground with an extraordinary 91 not out from 65 balls to help his side inflict the world champions' fourth loss in a week.

England won by three wickets to leave Australia last on the tri-series table after its shock loss to Bangladesh in Cardiff and Sunday's result.

Pietersen blasted four sixes and eight fours in an astonishing display of power hitting that turned the game around.

Chasing Australia's 9-252, England still needed 76 from the last 10 overs but the Pietersen onslaught meant the target was achieved in just 45 deliveries.

The extroverted batsman later rated the knock as the favourite of his one-day innings, ahead of the three centuries he scored against South Africa - the country of his birth - earlier this year.

"After all I copped in South Africa (from the crowd), to get a standing ovation at the end of (this) innings was a goosebump moment for me, it was fantastic," he said.

"This against the best side in the world - I always wanted to challenge myself against the best side in the world - so it was pretty special." Australian captain Ricky Ponting, whose side lost to England in the Twenty20 match and county side Somerset before the first two one-day internationals, admitted Pietersen's innings was remarkable.

"Probably when they're in my team they seem a bit more remarkable," he said.

"To score 91 off 65 - that's a pretty good innings, especially with the situation the game (was in).

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