Black Sox haka sets the challenge for Softball World Cup

A new pre-match haka and a booming home run by Ben Enoka set-up an important 3-1 victory for New Zealand over the Czech Republic in the opening game of the Men’s Softball World Cup in Auckland.

The Black Sox - seven-time champions - beat the Czech team 9-0 in the opening game of the Softball World Cup in Prague in 2019, but their European opponents, now ranked fifth in the world, have improved significantly, evidenced by a win over the Black Sox during the lead-up event in Palmerston North.

But Saturday’s opening match might have been a great start for the Black Sox but they were bought back to earth yesterday - losing 0 - 7 to the US.

It was the first time that the US has beaten the Golden Homes Black Sox since the last of their five world championship titles in 1988 in Canada.

The victory was set up by two two-run homers in the third inning at Rosedale Park in Albany, and cemented with rock-like defence as any Black Sox comeback was snuffed out.

Let's get ready to rumble - the Softball World Cup has started.

Whether it was the challenging conditions, which forced a two-hour rain delay in the afternoon, the day two results were more one-sided.

After two days there are only four unbeaten teams - USA and Argentina in Group A - from New Zealand and Czech Republic with a win each, while Canada and Australia have two wins in Group B with Japan and Venezuela one each.

Cuba accounted for Czech Republic 7-0, Canada blitzed Denmark 10-0, Venezuela fired 12-1 over South Africa and Argentina 6-0 winners against Philippines.

Australia remain unbeaten only after a highly dramatic late-night clash, coming from 5-2 down before edging Japan 6-5 in the eighth inning, after two rain stops and on-field drama. The game finished at 11.30pm.