Flintoff, who came in when England were struggling at 98 for three, put on 174 with Paul Collingwood, 79 not out, after off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (10-2-14-2) threatened to strangle the innings.

Their stand was a fifth wicket record for England in a one-day international, surpassing the 142 shared by Robin Smith and Graham Thorpe against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.

Flintoff's display in particular was another masterful exhibition of power strokeplay. But one short of what would have been his third one-day hundred he top-edged a pull off Ajit Agarkar and was caught by wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid. The all-rounder faced just 93 balls with four sixes and nine fours.

Collingwood, whose six in the last over off Ajit Agarkar took England past 300, faced 85 balls with 11 fours after being dropped on 12.

Geraint Jones was 12 not out.

Four India bowlers went for more than 50 runs apiece with Lakshmipathy Balaji (eight overs for 77) the most expensive.

The attack as a whole conceded a mammoth 28 wides in an extras total of 36.

England, who had not won a one-day international batting first since defeating Pakistan at the World Cup in Cape Town last year, started briskly after losing the toss with openers Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki posting fifty in 49 balls.

Harbhajan succeeded though where the quicks had failed and took a wicket with his third ball.

Trescothick swung Harbhajan high to deep square leg where Balaji caught the left-hander for 27.

England captain Michael Vaughan came in, looking to end a poor sequence of 47 runs in his last six one-day innings.

But he had managed just four when a glance off Harbhajan was well-caught down the legside by Dravid. England were 93 for two and Harbhajan had taken two for one in 11 balls.

Virender Sehwag, in his 100th one-day international and an occasional off-spinner, removed Solanki, in sight off a second successive fifty, when Dravid took another fine catch off a leg-side deflection.

The Indian-born batsman's runs had come in 56 balls with eight fours but England were struggling at 105 for four.

Flintoff gave the England fans in a capacity crowd something to cheer when he launched Sehwag for six.

Meanwhile Collingwood was lucky to see a diving Mohammad Kaif drop a sharp chance at short leg off Harbhajan.

But when the Turbanator's spell was over, with England 135 for four off 30 overs, the balance of power in the match shifted.

Flintoff struck a huge straight six, off Sehwag, on the largest ground in England before lofting paceman Balaji for a clean straight six.

Balaji then dropped Flintoff, on 80, at deep square leg following a miscued pull off Irfan Pathan that went straight to the fielder.

England scored 100 runs off the last 10 overs and 60 off the last five.