England stunned by West Indies

Spinner Holly Colvin took two wickets but West Indies were the happier of the two sides by the close of play

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England suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series as they lost by 40-runs in St Kitts.

The World Cup and World Twenty20 champions were playing their first match since July, and were caught cold by a fast-improving West Indies side at Warner Park.

West Indies number three Cordel Jack struck an unbeaten 81, including 10 fours and a six, as they posted 235 for six in 50 overs.

England's bowlers struggled to find a consistent line and length throughout the innings and the hosts reaped the rewards with 14 fours and three maximums, much to the delight of the 500-strong crowd.

The tourists began brightly in reply, with captain Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway adding 83 for the second wicket, but the absence of senior batters Claire and Sarah Taylor told as the middle-order faltered - leaving the tail too much to do.

Home captain Merissa Aguilleira won the toss and opening pair Stafanie Taylor and Pamela Lavine made a confident start with a partnership of 75 before a superb piece of fielding by Edwards removed Taylor for 24.

Levine fell one short of a half-century to Laura Marsh as Katherine Brunt made no mistake with catch.

Jack, whose previous highest in ODIs was 24, took the attack to England but left-arm spinner Holly Colvin struck twice in quick succession to reduce the hosts to 144 for four.

Charlotte Edwards top-scored for England but it was not enough to stave off defeat

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However Jack proved immovable, supported by Aguilleira’s quickfire 32 from 28 balls before falling leg before to Brunt.

Coach Mark Lane experimented with a new opening partnership of Edwards and Ebony Rainford-Brent, but the latter was stumped off 18-year-old off-spinner Stafanie Taylor for 16.

Edwards and Lydia Greenway combined with 58 and 41 respectively before Lavine, adding to her fine performance with the bat, claimed three quick wickets to reduce England to 125 for five in the 33rd over.

Despite some brave hitting from the lower order, notably from Nicky Shaw who struck 27 from 29 balls, the required run-rate crept up to 13 an over.

Chedean Nation took advantage with three wickets of her own as England slumped to 195 all out.

Edwards, speaking after the match, admitted England needed to improve quickly to avoid a series loss.

"Congratulations should go to the West Indian team for playing well today in front of their home crowd," she said. "They outplayed us and deserved to win but we'll come back fighting tomorrow."

Lane was unimpressed with England's performance.

"I'm bitterly disappointed with the result today," he said. "We were outplayed in all three disciplines and in all honesty we just weren't good enough.

"We need to show plenty of character tomorrow and come out fighting. We're a great team so we'll dust ourselves down and I'm confident that we'll perform far better tomorrow."