England lose thriller in opening ODI in West Indies

Shai Hope finished 109 not out in West Indies' remarkable chase

Shai Hope's sublime century led West Indies to a stunning four-wicket win over England in the opening one-day international in Antigua.

Needing an unlikely 106 from the last 10 overs with five wickets left, captain Hope was supported by Romario Shepherd's 48 from 28 balls.

Hope then finished the chase in style with three sixes in the 49th over.

England were firm favourites at the halfway stage on a tricky pitch that was offering uneven bounce and turn for the spinners.

In their first outing since a disappointing group-stage exit at the World Cup, England started emphatically after winning the toss as new openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks blitzed an opening stand of 77 in just 8.2 overs.

They somewhat squandered the positive start, with all of the top five reaching at least 20, and only Harry Brook able to kick on past a half-century with 71 from 72 balls.

But late cameos from Sam Curran and Brydon Carse, with an eighth-wicket stand of 66, propelled the score past 300.

A West Indies victory looked even more unlikely when they lost both openers in successive overs after a promising 104-run opening stand, exposing an inexperienced middle order.

But Hope timed his knock to perfection, biding his time alongside the aggression of Shepherd and Shimron Hetmyer, who made 32, before accelerating in the death overs once both had departed - taking a particular liking to Curran, who finished with 0-98.

The three-match ODI series continues at the same venue on Wednesday at 17:30 GMT.

England's batting returns to its blitzing best

Harry Brook top-scored with 71 in England's first-innings 325 in Antigua

Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for Buttler's side to take, particularly in the batting department.

Their World Cup disappointments came from tentative starts, an out-of-form batting line-up struggling to impose itself on the bowlers in testing conditions - a stark contrast from the champion side of 2019, of which the foundations were built on aggression, intimidation and owning the powerplay.

And with the onslaught of Jacks and Salt, both absent from the World Cup, they resorted to old methods from new faces.

Salt led the charge, whacking three sixes in his 28-ball 45 while Jacks struck 26 from 24, leaving West Indies' bowlers weary and struggling for answers.

When both fell in successive overs, the rebuild was led by the Test openers, with Zak Crawley adding a patient 45 and Ben Duckett 20 before Brook's 71 set the platform that allowed Curran and Carse to launch.

Concerns remain over the form of Buttler, who made just three from 13 balls, and all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who made a scratchy 17.

In a series billed as one to discover England's new era, head coach Matthew Mott will need performances from both experienced campaigners in order to build the side around them.

More to follow.