Pietersen and Flintoff lead recovery

Pietersen, who relinquished the England captaincy last month, was attempting to bring up a 16th Test hundred in spectacular style when he perished to tall left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.

But the 28-year-old's 172-ball effort stood out during a laboured start to the four-match series by Andrew Strauss' team.

West Indies adapted to the conditions expertly after losing the toss, and captain Chris Gayle joined the 6ft 7ins Benn in sending down 25 consecutive overs of spin either side of lunch. That spell suffocated England's scoring rate further after three morning wickets dictated the need for consolidation - they closed on 236 for five.

Ironically Pietersen had just invigorated things in spectacular fashion to get to the verge of three figures, hitting two fours and then a huge six in consecutive balls. But an attempt at a fourth big shot denied him ultimate glory on his return to the ranks as, down on one knee, he hauled the ball high into the muggy atmosphere.

Pietersen did not bother to wait around for confirmation of his fate, and had taken several strides back to the dressing room before wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin completed the catch.

He had dominated a stand of 86 for the fifth wicket with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, whose share was a meagre 17, and ensured that the tourists did not grind to a complete halt.

Flintoff remained steadfast, however, after passing a fitness test on his side strain, to finish unbeaten on 43. Previous to his prize scalp of Pietersen, in his 27th over of the day, Benn accounted for Paul Collingwood via a leg-before decision.

Earlier, Strauss fell cheaply in his first match since inheriting the official England captaincy, when he failed to take advantage of an early life. He was followed by opening partner Alastair Cook, who horribly miscued a pull, and Ian Bell, who succumbed minutes before lunch.

Number three Bell, who once again was preferred to nearly man Owais Shah, appeared full of confidence as he located the gaps expertly and raced to 14 off his first nine balls. Stuck in a rut on the eve of lunch, Bell's misjudgment of off-spinner Gayle's arm ball resulted in an edge to slip, which was comfortably snaffled low down by Devon Smith.