The Group A contest got off to a blistering start as the Dutch scored at the first possible opportunity, but the home nation responded immediately thanks to Yang Dai-kang's solo home-run at the bottom of the first innings.

That proved to be a fleeting moment of success in the early stages for Chinese Taipei, ranked one place higher than the Dutch, as The Netherlands extended their lead to 4-1 after Yurendell Eithel de Casters’s two-run homer in the second innings.

Taiwan reduced the deficit by one in the fourth as they began to stem the flow of the Dutch team’s scoring and when catcher Lin Hung-yu added another point for the hosts, the comeback was well and truly on.

The Dutch dominance slowly began to cease as the Chinese Taipei side shut their opponents out with a combination of accurate pitching and quick work out in the field.

Despite their momentum slowing in the middle section of the match, a three-run haul at the top of the ninth put the game out of reach for the hosts, who hit back with a score of their own which proved to be a mere consolation.

The result in a match which saw three home runs gives the Dutch the perfect start to Group A, which also includes Olympic silver medallists Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico and Italy.

Group B, which began yesterday with Japan’s 5-0 thumping of Olympic gold medallists South Korea, features world number two ranked the United States, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico.

The inaugural edition of the Premier12 tournament is due to continue  tomorrow with a bumper programme of four matches.

The American team make their bow at the competition when they face the Dominican Republic, which comes after Mexico play Venezuela as well as Italy’s clash with Puerto Rico.

The third day of the event then comes to a close when Cuba play Canada.

Group matches are also taking place in Chinese Taipei before the semi-finals and finals will be played at the Tokyo Dome, the proposed venue for the sport at the 2020 Olympics should it be added to the programme by the International Olympic Committee next year.

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