However, with only the top two teams able to qualify for Russia directly, third-placed Australia will hope the Samurai Blue can emerge with a win or hold the Saudis to a draw. of the bout but?the WBO declared Horn the clear winner after a panel of judges re-scored the fight. Brady battled to a 6-3 4-6 7-6 defeat of Monica Niculescu, while Vandeweghe beat 10th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5 4-6 6-4. However, that is of little concern to Japan, whose players have their own internal battles to impress Halilhodzic and keep their place on his World Cup squad. The group’s third placed team must negotiate a series of playoffs to qualify. nst the third-placed team in the other Asian group then a side from the North, Central and Caribbeanregion. Frenchman Sofiane Oumiha, the Rio Olympic Games’ silver- medallist, was among the few to stand. Australia can still qualify from third place but would need to negotiate home and away playoffs agai. The fifth and final ODI, with a chance of causing another whitewash, will be contested on Sunday in Colombo. ’High-flying Japan’s final World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday is a dead rubbe.