The Lancashire all-rounder, man-of-the-match on four of his last five appearances, hit an unbeaten 52 off only 39 balls as England clinched a seven-wicket victory with 10.3 overs remaining.

Flintoff produced another powerful innings after being fortunate to survive an appeal for a stumping when he had reached only 29, coming out of his crease to sweep Manjural Islam.

Curiously though, third umpire Shakutur Rahman rejected Bangladesh's strong case, even though replays showed his trailing foot was on the line and therefore out.

It continued Flintoff's rich vein of form since last summer and ensured England passed their toughest test yet in the series after Bangladesh were dismissed for 182, their highest total of the series.

England's reply had begun badly again with Vikram Solanki falling for his second successive single figure score but Marcus Trescothick regained the momentum during a 61-run partnership with Michael Vaughan.

The England captain fell when he was adjudged leg before trying to drive all-rounder Mushfiqur Rahman but Trescothick continued to his first half-century of the series before being bowled attempting to force the pace.

It was left to Paul Collingwood, who finished unbeaten on 46, to play the anchor role to Flintoff's more aggressive innings and give England a successful platform to build on ahead of the one-day series in Sri Lanka next week.

Bangladesh had earlier produced their most impressive batting display of the series to thwart an England line-up which included two changes, Gareth Batty taking over from Ashley Giles and James Kirtley replacing Richard Johnson.

They also lost an early wicket with youngster Moniruzzaman mistiming an attempted pull in the third over and giving James Anderson a diving return catch.

But the remainder of Bangladesh's top order all reached double figures with all-rounder Mushfiqur top-scoring with a determined 36 off only 37 balls, an innings which threatened to guide his side past 200.

Just as England appeared to become frustrated Bangladesh lost three wickets in as many overs with all-rounder Rikki Clarke claiming two victims in his most impressive one-day bowling display for England to date.

But it was all-rounder Flintoff, man-of-the-match in the two previous matches in the series, and Kirtley who finished off the innings with five balls remaining by claiming two wickets apiece.

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