A superb Ian Bell century rescued England in Antigua to steer the tourists to 341-5 at stumps on day one of the opening Test as West Indies failed to build on a superb start.
Reeling at 34-3 following a three-ball duck from Jonathan Trott on his England return and the wickets of captain Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance, Bell played yet another a timely innings when it mattered most.
Bell's knock of 143 – which included 20 fours and a six - at the Vivian Richards Stadium on Monday formed part of a vital 177-run partnership with Joe Root, who made 83 before being bowled off an inside edge off Jerome Taylor.
Ben Stokes added a rapid 71 not out from 80 deliveries following Root's dismissal to ensure England closed in command, a far cry from the early stages that saw a wicket apiece for Taylor, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder.
Roach finished as the pick of the bowlers with 2-66.
Put into bat on their first competitive outing since the group-stage exit at the Cricket World Cup, England suffered an early setback in the first over as Trott, on his 50th Test some 17 months on from quitting the 2013-14 Ashes tour due to a stress-related condition, edged to Darren Bravo at first slip off the bowling of Taylor.
Roach removed out-of-form Cook for 11 via an inside-edge onto his stumps shortly after and England were in real trouble when poor shot selection saw Ballance depart for 10 - the Yorkshire batsman opting to drive a delivery that was wide of off-stump and send it straight to Bravo.
Cool heads were needed and Bell and Root delivered, safely steering England to lunch on 49-3 before cranking up the pressure.
Sulieman Benn dropped Root on 61 in the first over after tea, but it was a short reprieve as he fell 12 runs short of his century.
Bell reached three figures – his 22nd Test hundred – in fortuitous circumstances with a late cut that flashed past first slip before he and Stokes combined to pile on quickfire runs.
Roach eventually had Bell caught behind in the penultimate over to bring nightwatchman James Tredwell to the crease.