West Indies edge first ODI.

Michael Lumb's century on his ODI debut was not enough to save England.

England suffered further chaos in the Caribbean after losing the first ODI against West Indies by 15 runs, despite being in a commanding position.

Michael Lumb led England’s run-chase with an impressive century on his England ODI debut, becoming the second Englishmen to do so.

West Indies added nearly 200 runs in the second half of their innings, demonstrating just how well England had started, but also how badly they had finished, with the ball.

The visitors leaked 85 runs from the last five overs and their run chase could have been ever harder if it wasn’t for tight start to the game, with six maidens in the first 20 overs.

The hosts struggled to accelerate at the start of the innings and England reduced the opposition to 45-4 in the sixteenth over, presenting the rest of the team with an unfavorable task.

Kent spinner, James Tredwell, proved to be economical for England, finishing with 1-21, claiming the important wicket of opener, Dwayne Smith (24).

The innings was initially rebuilt by Lendl Simmons (65) and West Indies captain, Dwayne Bravo, who added 108 for the fifth wicket, giving the hosts a more competitive target.

At the death England’s bowlers proved ineffective. Captain Stuart Broad bowled just six overs and all-rounders, Ben Stokes and Ravi Bopara, didn’t bowl at all.

Bravo (87) and Darren Sammy, were belligerent in the latter stages of the innings, sharing 13 fours and 5 sixes between them.

Tim Bresnan claimed 3-68 from his allocation, removing Sammy off the final ball of the innings, but the damage had already been done by the all-rounder who smashed 61 from 36 deliveries.

The response began with two ODI debutants, Lumb and Moeen Ali, with both batsmen vindicating England’s decision to open with these uncapped players.

The opening stand, worth 96 runs, was the highest by two debutants in ODI history. Lumb reached his half-century from 58 balls, but the following delivery saw the dismissal of his partner for a valiant 44, after he had earlier claimed 1-25 with the ball.

Luke Wright had flourished in the Australian Big Bash but was unable to replicate this form for England. Sammy removed the Sussex all-rounder for just one and the innings was halted by the sudden loss of two quick wickets.

Ably assisted by Joe Root, Lumb soldiered on and the pair amassed a 50 partnership for the fourth wicket to steady the innings.

The hosts soon became fatigued by this stand, and Lumb capitalized on this, reaching his century from 109 balls as he led England’s chase of 270.

As is often the case, the batting powerplay had a negative impact for England, losing Lumb and Stokes, as the required run rate continued to rise steadily.

This forced pressure on Root (37) and Buttler (12) and they were both dismissed in quick succession, leaving England with a complicated task. 

With just four wickets in hand, England struggled to cope with the run rate approaching 12 runs per over and the efforts of the unbeaten Bopara (23) and Bresnan (14) were not enough to save England.

After starting their chase comfortably, England’s innings was halted by the experienced batsmen who have once again failed to live up to expectation.

The damage done by the West Indies batsmen proved decisive but, after a miserable ordeal in Australia, England fans are becoming accustomed to this kind of disappointment.