Matt Prior and Owais Shah produced a brilliant 149-run partnership from only 126 balls to inspire England to their highest-ever one-day total against West Indies at Edgbaston.

England's third-wicket pair sparkled as the home side reached 328 for seven from their 50 overs — the highest score achieved by an England side on this ground and their sixth-highest of all time — to leave the tourists facing a huge task to square the NatWest Series in this third and final match.

The tourists were then reduced to 22 for two, losing crucial wickets either side of a break for rain at the beginning of their reply.

Skipper Chris Gayle mistimed a pull off Stuart Broad and was caught by Ravi Bopara at mid-on for 11, and, after the break, Ramnaresh Sarwan fell to another catch when Andrew Strauss showed great athleticism at cover to hold a chance off James Anderson.

Following their comprehensive six-wicket victory at Bristol on Sunday, England picked up where they had left off this morning on a flat track in Birmingham, where Gayle had taken the surprising decision to bowl first.

The home side were already in a good position on 129 for two when Shah joined Prior at the crease, and the batsmen quickly established a position of dominance over the tourists' attack.

The 50 stand was brought up from only 51 deliveries, while Shah reached his 50 and took the partnership beyond the 100 mark in the most emphatic fashion, pulling Dwayne Bravo over deep midwicket for six.

With both men continuing their wonderful exhibition of clean hitting, England were cantering along, although the fun finally came to an end when Shah was out for 75, caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Runako Morton off the bowling of Jerome Taylor.

Wicketkeeper Prior followed soon afterwards when, attempting a huge leg-side blow, he was bowled by Taylor for 87. Birthday boy Paul Collingwood, who turned 33 today, kept the momentum going with 23 from only 14 deliveries, including a huge six to the square-leg boundary off Taylor.

Earlier, captain Andrew Strauss and Bopara had built the perfect platform with a stand of 81 in 15 overs. Bopara has carried his fine form from the Tests into this series, although the Essex batsman will have been extremely frustrated to have been out for 49.

Bopara showed great timing, hitting seven fours before an attempted defensive shot off Bravo hit him on the back pad before rolling onto the stumps.

Prior and Strauss had added 48 for the second wicket when the skipper, who was dropped at backward point by Kieron Pollard in Fidel Edwards's first over when he had only 16, was stumped by Denesh Ramdin off Sulieman Benn for 52.