The England batsmen seemed to encounter every piece of bad luck going - and most could not be blamed for their dismissals.
The good news was that Jonny Bairstow seems to have made the troublesome Number 3 spot his own.
They made a below par but not well below par total of 187.
The Windies openers had all the good luck which had avoided England in their innings and ended the day on a creditable 25 without loss.
It is going to be a real uphill struggle from here.