August 8, 2016
Defending champions Cuba will take on hosts Japan in the final of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-15 Baseball World Cup after both sides recorded victories in their last super round matches in Iwaki.
The Cuban side, bidding to clinch a second consecutive title, ensured they would play for the title as they overcame Venezuela 4-2 in a hard-fought encounter.
The dramatic match proved to be a tense affair before the Cubans eventually got the better of their stubborn opponents.
Japan, who will be hoping to use home advantage to topple Cuba in tomorrow's showpiece contest, edged past Panama to condemn the Central American side to the bronze medal play-off, where they will face the United States.
Both the host nation and Cuba finished the super round phase on a four win and one loss record.
The US, who had beaten Japan yesterday to boost their chances of qualifying for the final, fell agonisingly short of a top two place after they succumbed to a shock 7-5 defeat at the hands of Colombia.
The result for the world number two ranked side ended their hopes of playing for the main prize and they will instead have to settle for a spot in the bronze medal match.
Chinese Taipei completed the consolation round with a 100 per cent record as they thrashed the Czech Republic 10-0 to finish at the summit of the standings having won five straight games.
South Korea took second spot after they crushed New Zealand by the same scoreline.
In the other consolation round clash, Mexico beat Australia 8-5.
The tournament in Japan concludes tomorrow.
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