NORTH SOUND, Antigua: The West Indies cruised to an eight-wicket victory over an experimental England side in Antigua on Thursday in the rain-affected opener of their One-Day International series.
A week after the Test team slumped to a series defeat in Pakistan, England named four ODI debutants for the first of three matches against the West Indies, and their rookie line-up laboured to a disappointing 209 all out from their innings.
The hosts made a fine start to their reply before a rain delay gave them a new target via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, one they strolled to with nine overs to spare.
Their pursuit was made easier thanks to a big-hitting 94 from Evin Lewis.
England get the chance to redeem themselves at the same Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday, before the third and final ODI of the series takes place in Barbados next Wednesday.
"I think the test we have to come over the next few games is to get into the rhythms of 50-over cricket," England captain Liam Livingstone said.
"We have to get up to speed as quickly as possible. We know someone in the top six has to get a big score."
With England looking to improve on a record of 11 defeats in their last 17 ODIs, Jamie Overton, Dan Mousley, Jordan Cox and John Turner all earned their first caps for the tourists with several Test-team big names rested at home.
England's more experienced opening pair, Phil Salt and Will Jacks, got off to a positive start before both were removed by Jayden Seales inside the opening five overs.
Jacob Bethell's dismissal left the tourists languishing on 93-4 before stand-in skipper Livingstone's 72-run partnership with Sam Curran steadied the ship.
Cheap dismissals were a theme for England at the World Cup last year and they were an issue once again on Thursday, with Gudakesh Motie the star of the home bowling attack, registering figures of 4-41.
The hosts had reached 81-0 from their opening 15 overs before the rain came and their target was then revised to 157 from 35 overs when play resumed.
Lewis continued where he had left off, hammering eight sixes on his way to 94 off 69 balls to see off England with ease.
"Evin Lewis is experienced and has been around for a long time," West Indies skipper Shai Hope said.
"He's hungry. I'm glad with the scores he's getting now." -- Reuters
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