Replying to West Indies's 313-6 -- the highest score made against England in limited overs cricket -- the touring team limped to 148-9.
Things went wrong for England almost as soon as its skipper Mike Atherton decided to field first on a ground renowned for low scoring.
Openers Desmond Haynes and Phil Simmons found the innocuous medium pace attack no threat, racing to a century stand in less than 22 overs.
The pair had put on 145 -- a record first wicket partnership against England in the limited overs game -- when left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell had Simmons caught at long-off for 63. Haynes fell 11 runs later for 83, another Tufnell victim.
But enter Brian Lara and then Richie Richardson. Lara put on 74 in just nine overs with Keith Arthurton, sweeping past his 50 off just 32 deliveries. He finally fell for 60 from 41 balls.
Richardson was even more destructive once he had established his supremacy over the bowlers. He clubbed his way to an unbeaten 52 off only 26 deliveries with six fours and two sixes.
Alan Igglesden, who was plundered for 23 in one over, 18 of them to Richardson, Steve Watkin and Chris Lewis all went for more than 60 runs.
England, needing to get its reply off to a flier, promoted the hard-hitting Chris Lewis to open the innings with Alec Stewart.
But Lewis's batting was as lukewarm as his bowling. He was trapped leg before by Anderson Cummins for 2 and when Stewart went for 13 and Robin Smith for 18 England's unequal battle was already lost.
England's heaviest defeat in run-margin terms left it 2-1 down in the five-match series.
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