Chasing a modest target of 152 from 50 overs, West Indies lost five wickets before they achieved victory in the 39th over.

New West Indies captain Brian Lara had the privilege of hitting the winning runs, when he lofted a delivery from Ryan Higgins over wide long on for a six to give his side a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Lara's unbeaten 40 from 43 balls that contained three fours and one six was the top score for the home team. Prosper Utseya was the most successful Zimbabwe bowler with three wickets for 35 runs from his allotment of 10 overs.

Sent in to bat on a helpful pitch, Zimbabwe had been restricted to 151 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs. Justice Chibhabha scored 55 from 99 balls and featured in a vital stand of 64 for the second wicket with captain Terrence Duffin, who scored 26.

Four West Indies bowlers -- Taylor, Bravo, Smith and Gayle -- collected two wickets apiece.

West Indies suffered an early casualty, when Runako Morton, opening the batting, was caught at second slip for a duck off the last ball of the first over bowled by Edward Rainsford.

Opening batsman Chris Gayle was out for 35 off Prosper, and fellow left-hander and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught behind top-edging a cut at a delivery from Prosper to leave West Indies 77 for four.

The series continues on Sunday when the two teams contest the second match at the same venue before heading to Georgetown for back-to-back matches on May 6 and 7.

They will play the first limited-overs international under lights in the Caribbean at Gros Islet's Beausejour Stadium on May 10 before the series ends in Port of Spain on May 13 and 14.