TOWNSVILLE, Australia (CMC) — Fast bowler Justin Greaves conceded 18 runs from the final over as West Indies Under-19s squandered a final-four berth in the Youth World Cup with a shocking loss to New Zealand in a tension-filled quarter-final here yesterday.

Starting the last over as favourites to progress, with the Kiwis needing 18 runs to reach their target of 238, the Caribbean side watched helplessly as Ish Sodhi blasted 17 of his eventual 22 runs to send them to a stunning three-wicket defeat.

The Young Windies were still in with a chance with four needed from the last ball, but Sodhi cracked Greaves to the ropes to set off massive celebrations among the New Zealand camp.

Sent in, West Indies tallied 237 all out off their 50 overs with Akeal Hosein topscoring with 54 and captain Kraigg Brathwaite getting 53.

Fast bowler Matthew Quinn finished with 3-54 while Sodhi, twirling his leg-breaks, captured 2-36 and seamer Jacob Duffy, 2-42.

New Zealand got a topscore of 59 from Ben Horne and 42 from Robert O’Donnell, but struggled to keep up with the required run rate throughout, and were left needing nine per over in the last 10.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES

*K Brathwaite c wkp Fletcher b Duffy 53

+S Ambris c Neynens b Duffy 35

J Campbell c Davidson b Quinn 5

A Alleyne c O’Donnell b Davey 26

K Hodge lbw b Sodhi 8

K Mayers c wkp Fletcher b Sodhi 4

A Hosein c wkp Fletcher b Quinn 54

J Greaves run out 7

D Davis c wkp Fletcher b Quinn 26

R Beaton not out 1

J Jones run out 3

Extras (b2, lb6, w7) 15

TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 237

Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Ambris), 2-56 (Campbell), 3-96 (Alleyne), 4-108 (Hodge), 5-117 (Mayers), 6-166 (Brathwaite), 7-187 (Greaves), 8-233 (Hosein), 9-234 (Davis), 10-237 (Jones)

Bowling: Duffy 10-0-42-2 (w2), Quinn 10-0-54-3 (w2), Davey 10-1-49-1, Neynens7-0-35-0, Sodhi 10-1-36-2 (w2), Horne 3-0-13-0 (w1).

NEW ZEALAND

M Davidson c Hosein b Beaton 16

J Carter c Greaves b Beaton 1

B Horne c Hosein b Mayers 59

*W Young c Campbell b Mayers 8

R O’Donnell c Alleyne b Mayers 42

+C Fletcher c wkp Ambris b Beaton 49

C Neynens b Greaves 25

I Sodhi not out 22

J Duffy not out 0

Extras (lb6, w10) 16

TOTAL (7 wkts, 50 overs) 238

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Carter), 2-39 (Davidson), 3-81 (Young), 4-104 (Horne), 5-157 (O’Donnell), 6-212 (Neynens), 7-220 (Fletcher)

Did not bat: S Davey, M Quinn.

Bowling: Jones 10-0-53-0 (w2), Beaton 10-1-47-3 (w4), Davis 10-0-29-0 (w1), Hosein 3-0-18-0, Mayers 9-0-42-3 (w1), Greaves 8-0-43-1 (w2).

Result: New Zealand won by three wickets.

Man-of-the-Match: I Sodhi.

Toss: New Zealand.

Umpires: J Cloete, R Martinesz.