England came close to another setback on their disappointing Caribbean tour before finally claiming a 51-run victory against the West Indies Players' Association in their only warm-up match before the start of the one-day series.

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Deciding to bat first after winning the toss with a side without several resting senior players - including captain Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen - the tourists reached 282-5 when rain halted play with six overs of their innings remaining.

Playing with the oil refinery burning away in the background at Guaracara Park, England recovered from the loss of opener Steven Davies in the fifth over with stand-in captain Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara (pictured) forging a 77-run stand to lay the platform for a major total.

Bopara, continuing in the opening role he was given in India before Christmas, hit an aggressive 56 after being dropped on 19 including five fours and a six.

He was stumped coming down the wicket attempting to hit over the top, but Bell continued England's momentum with a determined 55 as he attempted to regain his place in England's line-up having been dropped after the first Test in Jamaica.

But once Bell fell England also lost Owais Shah and Matt Prior in quick succession as three wickets fell for 32 runs to halt England's solid progress.

Adil Rashid and Dimitri Mascarenhas repaired the damage with a solid stand before rain halted play just as they were about to launch a late assault in the final overs of the innings.