England twice surrendered commanding positions to fall to a 15-run defeat in the opening one-day international with the West Indies in Antigua.
Michael Lumb became only the second Englishmen to score a debut century, but the tourists suffered a classic middle-order collapse to fall short of their 270 target.
Stuart Broad's side had earlier reduced the West Indies to 45-4 as Moeen Ali, James Tredwell, Joe Root and Tim Bresnan each picked up a dismissal on a pitch which was assisting spin bowling.
However, Lendl Simmons came together with Dwayne Bravo [87 not out] to put on 108 for the fifth wicket, a patient partnership which allowed the Twenty20 world champions to let fly in the final stages.
When Simmons was caught off Bresnan for 65, Darren Sammy joined his skipper at the crease and smashed four sixes in a 36-ball knock of 61 as the Windies added 100 to their total in the last seven overs.
England's opening pair Lumb and Moeen, another making his ODl bow, put on 96 at a good rate as the tourists began their chase in promising fashion before the latter chipped off for 44.
Luke Wright quickly followed for one, pulling Sammy straight to mid-wicket, but Lumb and Root (37) rebuilt England's innings in a 74-run stand in which Lumb followed Dennis Amiss into the history books.
The batting powerplay then derailed England once more as Lumb's dismissal for 106 sparked a series of ill-advised shots brought about from pressure established by tight bowling from Sunil Narine.
They went from 180-2 to 211-6 and with two new men, Bresnan and Ravi Bopara, who was making his 100th ODI appearance, in the middle, England continued to fall behind the run rate.
After needing 29 to win from two overs, they eventually finished on 254-6 as the Windies won the first of three matches over the space of five days at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Joe Fish
