Three-nil down after the first innings against the side whom they beat in the 2014 and 2016 finals, the home team tipped the match back their way in the fifth innings as they won 5-1 to bring the score to 6-5 with two innings remaining – and that is how it stayed.

It means that the two sides are due to meet again tomorrow in the gold medal match, with Croatia and France contesting the bronze.

The Czech Republic will be chasing a fifth successive title. 

The home team, who had led the world silver medallists, The Netherlands, 9-0 at the halfway point of their previous evening’s match before it was halted because of lightning, had got back into winning stride earlier in the day as they opened with a 10-0 win over Lithuania.

Denmark had warmed up earlier in the day with an 8-0 win over a French side that had earlier defeated Croatia 16-9.

Slovakia warmed up with a 10-5 win over Sweden before putting up a monumental struggle against The Netherlands, who just managed to secure of 16-15 win in their second match of the day.

Croatia had an unhappy day as their defeat by France was followed by an 11-2 loss to Israel.

The Israeli team went on to earn a 14-1 win over Lithuania.