England overwhelmed minnows Bermuda by 241 runs in their opening World Cup warm-up match here on Monday.

Bermuda, chasing 287 for victory, were bowled out for 45 inside 23 overs.

Pace bowler Jon Lewis, who took three wickets for no runs in 14 balls, finished with figures of three for seven in four overs while Andrew Flintoff took two for three.

David Hemp (11), who plays English county cricket for Glamorgan, was the only Bermuda batsman to make it into double figures.

But giant left-arm spinner Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock, a member of the Bermuda police, ensured England didn't have things all their own way by taking two for 32 from 10 overs.

The 35-year-old, who weighs in at around 19 stone, teamed up with wicket-keeper Dean Minors to dismiss batsmen Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen.

Bermuda's cause was not helped by the concussion sustained by captain Irving Romaine when falling on his head while fielding which prevented the top-order batsman from facing a ball.

Earlier, England lost wickets steadily and it needed Jamie Dalrymple's composed 76 to revive their innings from the depths of 186 for six.

Off-spinner Deloyne Borden, who dismissed all-rounder Dalrymple, took three for 71.

England won the toss in a match where both sides fielded 13 men in a bid to give squad members as much practice as possible.

They soon lost openers Ed Joyce (seven) and skipper Michael Vaughan (18), to Kevin Hurdle (two for 58).

The paceman bowled Joyce with an inswinger and had Vaughan pulling straight to Hemp.

After Ian Bell went for 46, Leverock and Minors struck.

Collingwood was caught behind for seven and Pietersen was stumped for 43.

Leverock, who as a teenager represented Bermuda in the 110 metres hurdles at the CARIFTA or junior Caribbean games, took two for 11 in his first five overs alone.

Flintoff wastefully holed out against Borden on 24. But Dalrymple, as he'd done before, repaired the damage with a 66-ball fifty featuring just two fours and then struck two successive sixes off Borden.

Bermuda's warm-up campaign continues against Zimbabwe here Thursday while, 24 hours later, England face world champions Australia in St Vincent's final warm-up fixture before the tournament proper starts on March 13.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)