The hosts were impressive throughout the first round of the competition, winning all three of their Pool B matches to qualify for the second stage of the event.

Pool A runners-up The Netherlands provided a stern challenge to the two-time winners in the opening stages of a match watched by a crowd of 44,326.

The two teams proved inseparable after the first three innings of the Pool E contest, with the scores level at 5-5.

Japan edged ahead, scoring a run in the fifth innings, only for the Dutch to hit back in the ninth.

It meant extra innings were required to separate the teams, the host nation securing a 8-6 victory by achieving two runs in the 11th.

The result gave Japan an ideal start as they seek to book a place in the semi-finals of a competition they won in 2006 and 2009.

Israel, making their debut in the event after coming through qualifying, continued their dream run by stunning Cuba 4-1 in the opening Group E match of the day at the Tokyo Dome.

The Cuban team took a one run lead in the early stages of the match before Israel stormed back to win their fourth straight game.

They secured four runs without reply to begin the second round of the competition in fine fashion.

First round action drew to a conclusion in the Americas, with the final matches held in Pool C and D.

The Dominican Republic, the defending champions, claimed a third straight win as they overcame Colombia 10-3 in Pool C at Marlins Park in Miami.

The result saw them finish top of the standings, with the United States securing second spot by overcoming Canada 8-0.

Pool D winners Puerto Rico beat Italy 9-3, while hosts Mexico secured their first win of the competition by defeating Venezuela 11-9.

Italy and Venezuela will now compete in a tiebreaker match to decide who joins the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the United States in the second round.

The qualifiers from both groups will be placed in Pool F of the competition.