Havana, Oct 27: Cuba beat Panama to win the World Baseball Cup. Frederich Cepeda scored two home runs to lead the Cuban team to a 4-2 win over Panama on Saturday (October 25) in the World Baseball Cup final. The victory marked the Cuban teams fourth world title since the tournament began in England in 1938. Cuban pitcher Norge Luis Vera received loud support from fans as he faced seventeen batters, allowing only one hit and no runs in his third victory in the championship. Vera was called in during the fourth inning to take over for pitcher Vicyohandri Odelin, who gave up two runs. Some 50,000 fans congregated in the stadium for the final.


Cuba and Panama had booked their places in the final after beating Taiwan and Japan respectively on Thursday (October 23). The Cubans knocked out Taiwan with a 6-3 score while Panama beat Japan 4-1.


Earlier on Saturday, Japan secured the bronze medal after seeing off Taiwan 7-3 in the third place playoff.


Bureau Report