Robert Key hit an unbeaten 93 to take England to a seven-wicket win over West Indies on day five of the third Test on Monday, securing a 3-0 series lead with one Test to play.

Key steadied England after a poor start chasing 231 to win on a misbehaving Old Trafford pitch to hand the hosts a ninth Test win in 10 matches, their best performances in Tests since 1978/79.

"We knew that one player had to get in and see us home and Robert Key has done that fantastically," England captain Michael Vaughan said.

"To be honest we did not play that well but in last two days we have shown a lot of fighting spirit. But you have got to give West Indies a lot of credit for the way they have played in this game."

Andrew Flintoff played some risky pull shots but added a crucial 57 not out including two sixes and the winning run on his home ground.

He came in at number five ahead of Graham Thorpe, who broke a finger and is in doubt for the next test but was named man-of-the-match for his battling 114 in England's first innings.

Vaughan helped give England the initiative after the lunch when the outcome of the match was still in doubt, playing some trademark cover drives following an eight-over rain break.

Menacing clouds remained over the Manchester venue but further showers held off to allow England to chase down a record fourth-innings winning total at Old Trafford.

EXTRAVAGANT BOUNCE

Vaughan fell victim to growing extravagant bounce when a Chris Gayle off break leapt up and he could only fend a catch to Brian Lara at slip for 33.

England lost both openers early with Corey Collymore bowling Marcus Trescothick through the gate for 12 and Andrew Strauss (12) mis-timing a pull off Pedro Collins to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at mid-on.

Otherwise the West Indies bowlers lacked penetration on a day they needed to be consistent having found themselves in their first possible winning position of the series.

West Indies captain Lara, who became the fourth and quickest player to reach 10,000 Test runs on Sunday, played down the milestone in light of the defeat.

"It is good to achieve but at the end of the day we have not won this test match. I thought we played really well," he said.

West Indies had begun on 161 for nine but Steve Harmison dismissed Edwards in the third over of the morning to finish with figures of four for 44, his best return of the series.

The fourth and final Test begins at the Oval in London on Thursday with England looking for their second whitewash in two series after beating New Zealand 3-0 in May and June.

England previously beat West Indies 3-0 in a four-match series in the Caribbean in March and April.