27th November, Las Vegas: The top four pairs from the second squad made the Men's Doubles Semi-finals of the 2017 World Bowling Championships as the second Japanese pair of Takuya Miyazawa and Shota Kouki topped the combined standings.

With a benchmark of 2558 set by Chinese Taipei's first pair of Xu Zhe-Jia and Chen Wu-Chi in the opening squad and a top 4 cut at 83 over, fifty-three pairs from the second squad took to the lanes in the afternoon to better that.

Team USA's Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas and Tommy Jones of Simsonville, S.C., set the early pace with a strong 493 to lead Hong Kong's third pair of Lau Kwun Ho and Eric Tseng by two pins. Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Chin-Liang and Singles silver medallist, Wu Hao-Ming followed in third with 449.

Lau and Tseng took over the lead briefly when the duo added 415 to their second game as Barnes and Jones stumbled to a 398.

Japan's Takuya Miyazawa and Shota Kouki was way down the pack but shot a big game of 484 to improve their lowly position. Hong Kong continued to set a consistent pace and remained in the lead after the fifth game but their gap was reduced to 19 pins by the Finland.

All the top five contenders at this stage looked set to overhaul the top four finishers from the first squad. Hong Kong needed 345 or more, Finland 364 or more, USA 377 or more and Japan 421 or more. Miyazawa almost shot the tournament's second 300 but ended with 299.

His partner Kouki added 202 to give the Japanese pair a stunning 501, which propelled them into top spot with a total of 2638. USA knocked down 450 to snatch second spot with 2631 while the third to fifth spots were keenly fought out amongst Hong Kong, Finland and Chinese Taipei.

Chinese Taipei 2 ended first with 516 for a total of 2579 and looked as if they had finished third but Finland hung in with 413 to seal third spot with 2607 and Hong Kong came home with 388 to clinch fourth spot with 2601.