The Canadian team had begun the contest as the overwhelming favourites having emerged top of  Group A following wins in all five of their matches, whereas Mexico had scrapped into the quarter-finals after ending Group B with two wins and three defeats.

Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the first innings of the game, however, and impressive pitching saw them maintain their advantage until the sixth innings, where the Canadians finally made their mark on the contest with Tyler O’Neill levelling the match before Brock Kjeldgaard scored two to give them a 3-1 lead.

An error from Sean Jamieson in the eighth innings proved costly for Canada, as with the bases loaded, Mexico were able to score three runs to establish a 4-3 advantage, which they were able to defend to secure a dramatic victory.

Mexico are now set to face the United States in the semi-finals after the second seeds ended the European challenge at the tournament, for the top 12 countries in the world, overcoming The Netherlands in their first knock-out tie.

The Dutch had taken a 1-0 lead after the third innings but the US took control of the match by scoring three in the fifth, before further scores in the seventh and eighth ends saw them build an unassailable 6-1 advantage over their opponents.

Both Mexico and the US will now travel to Japan’s Tokyo Dome which is set to stage the semi-final and medal matches of the competition.

The new hosts Japan ensured they would be competing in front of a home crowd on Thursday (November 19) as they progressed to the last four courtesy of a dominant victory over Puerto Rico in their quarter-final match at the Taoyuan Stadium.

As the Group B winners, having won all five of their matches, Japan were the heavy favourites for the encounter and they underlined that billing by scoring freely to build a 9-0 lead by the ninth innings, where the Puerto Ricans earned three consolation runs.

With Canada having tasted defeat Japan are now the only team yet to lose in the Premier12 but South Korea will hope to end that run in the semi-final having beaten Cuba by a comfortable 7-2 margin in their last eight tie.

The US will meet Mexico in the semi-final on Friday (November 20) with the final due to take place the following day. 

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