TAIPEI, Nov 17: Cuba beat Japan 3-1 Saturday in the semi-final of the 2001 Baseball World Cup and will take on the United States which routed home team Chinese Taipei in another game.

Defending champions Cuba powered to victory in the extended 11th innings after they drew a 1-1 tie with Japan in the fifth.

Cuban batters collected two runs in the 10th on four singles in the game held at the Shinchuang Baseball Stadium outside Taipei.

Starting pitcher Jose Contreras gave in eight hits to Japanese batters.

Cuba will face the United States in the final Sunday.

The US cruised past Chinese Taipei 4-1 before a rapturous crowd of 10,000 which packed Taipei’s Tienmu Baseball Stadium.

US right fielder Joe Borchard slugged a two-run homer in the fifth, which helped his team to maintain their edge throughout the game. The US added two other runs in the sixth. The American batters collected 12 hits.

US pitchers combined allowed only five runs to Chinese Taipei batters, including the solo homer by Cheng Chang-ming.

Saturday’s results: