Captain Farhan Ahmed top-scored with a precocious 54 but England U19 were beaten by Joshua Dorne’s century as a four-wicket loss to West Indies saw them slip to an unassailable 4-2 deficit in their seven-match Youth ODI series.

Having opted to bat first, 17-year-old Ahmed showed a maturity well beyond his age to strike a measured 54 from 76 balls, with two fours and a six, as England were bowled out for 221.

However, Dorne’s unbeaten 102 from 101 balls provided the lynchpin of the West Indies’ chase, which was comfortably completed with more than 11 full overs to spare in spite of Ahmed again returning an exceptionally economical 1/32 from ten overs.

His wicket was that of Shamar Apple, who nicked behind to Joe Moores for one, and after which England hopes were briefly raised as Jonathan van Lange went for a golden duck to leave West Indies 89-5.

That did not, though, take enough away from captain Dorne, who proceeded to share in a 92-run sixth-wicket stand with Matthew Miller, who made 43, to ultimately see the hosts across the line.

It was a harsh conclusion on Ahmed, whose earlier innings had helped England recover from a similarly-positioned 82-4 by also putting on 92 for the sixth wicket, with Moores.

Moores hit 42, while opener Isaac Mohammed added 45, but a haul of 4/17 from van Lange proved the difference as England were eventually unable to keep the series alive.

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