After defeating Japan 6-1 in the final in 2018, the Australians are looking on track to make the final again with an aim to win their sixth title.

Singapore had delivered an incredible upset over Argentina in their opening match, but could not find that same form here, giving Australia nine runs in the second inning which killed the game off before forfeiting in the fourth at Colquhoun Park.

They also remain the only team still undefeated in Group A after Canada crashed to the surprise package of the Czech Republic in a 9-2 defeat.

The Czechs had Adam Buchner to thank for their success, scoring three runs including in the sixth inning where his team scored three after Vojtěch Láska scored a home run to wrap the game up.

World number two Argentina finally won a match with a routine 6-1 defeat of bottom of the table South Africa.

In Group B, hosts New Zealand unceremoniously stopped the momentum of the previously-unbeaten Mexico, thrashing the side 14-3 on home turf.

Despite a feisty first inning where the hosts led their opponents 4-3, it was all one-way after that with Harrison Wildbore scoring four runs, backed up well by Jonathan Little, who got three.

The win tied both sides on two wins and a loss along with lowest seeds Guatemala, who led 8-0 after two innings to win 10-3 against the United States.

The only other team to remain undefeated were world number one, Japan who scored 15 unanswered runs in just three innings before their opponents, the struggling Denmark, forfeited the match.