Defending champions Czech Republic maintained their 100 per cent record at the Men's European Softball Championship by defeating silver medallists The Netherlands in round robin competition today ©Getty Images

Hosts and defending champions Czech Republic, seeking a fifth successive title at the Men’s Softball European Championship, were well on their way to maintaining their 100 per cent record tonight as they led silver medallists The Netherlands 9-0 when the game had to be delayed due to lightning.

Organisers later announced that the match had been postponed due to the weather conditions, and that a "new start" was to be decided.

The 15th edition of this biennial competition, postponed from last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is being staged in Ledenice and Sezimovo Ústí, with round robin play due to conclude tomorrow before Saturday’s play-off matches, for which spectators are set to be allowed.

The top two finishers will qualify for the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Men’s Softball World Cup 2022.

Since this event began in 1993, the Czech Republic have won it seven times, and The Netherlands three times.

Denmark, gold medallists in 2010, earned a whacking 16-1 win today over a Slovakia side that had earlier been beaten 14-4 by France.

That was Denmark’s second match following their narrow 8-5 win over Israel on a day when all six matches took place at Ledenice.

Croatia recorded a 15-0 win over Lithuania.

The Netherlands had earlier warmed up for their meeting with the hosts by defeating Sweden 21-8, but the preparation could only take them so far.