Flintoff fireworks

Then, having waited for West Indies' back-up bowlers to start losing the plot, they took a terrible toll on an undermanned attack.

The statistics are spectacular: The last 10 overs yielded 130 runs, Flintoff and Strauss plundered nine sixes and their stand - despite a slow start - spanned just 188 balls.

The exhibition of both power hitting and perfect placement was stunning.

Three days ago, Flintoff had not managed even one limited-over century for England. Now, after making 106 against New Zealand at Bristol, he's got two.

As for Strauss, can any player, anywhere in the world, have made a better start to international cricket?

Six weeks ago, Lord's was acclaiming his wonderful century, on Test debut, against the Kiwis. Today, although he happily played second fiddle to Flintoff, another packed crowd rose to salute his first hundred at this form of the game at only the 11th attempt.

West Indies brought some of the misery on themselves by fielding only two specialist bowlers and trying to get away with three would-be all-rounders.

Tino Best and Ian Bradshaw did their bit, especially with the new ball. But Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Gayle were heavily punished as England's innings gathered an unstoppable momentum.

Bravo the bowler? It was bravo the two batsman as even the electronic scoreboard struggled to keep up with the accelerating run-rate.

Mind you, Flintoff didn't want to bother too much with running, especially as he is playing as a batsman only at the moment because of a sore ankle. He blasted seven sixes - most of them huge blows into the crowd - and added eight fours.

'Super Fred' required 59 deliveries for his first 50. Yet his complete innings of 123 lasted only 104 balls.

As for Strauss, his acceleration was even more spectacular. Having used 84 balls for half-century No 1, he added a second off 31 deliveries.

England began their 50th and final over on 279 for three. They lost Flintoff and Strauss to boundary attempts, saw Paul Collingwood caught in the deep and then had Geraint Jones run out. But none of that mattered too much.

England's mood was considerably different earlier in the day. They lost both openers, Marcus Trescothick (11) and Vaughan (8) to Best and then saw Robert Key (19) play on against Dwayne Smith. For Vaughan, it was his fifth failure in as many innings in this tournament.