Despite falling behind in the first few innings, Australia fought back before eventually going down 9-3 to two-time defending champions Cuba at the U15 World Cup.
Australia threatened early with the bases loaded in the first, however couldn't capitalise, which opened the door for Cuba to plate four runs of their own in the second inning.
Hits were shared among the Australians, with Jaime Fox reaching base three times care of a triple, walk and a hit-by-pitch.
The Aussie bats came to life in the fourth, with Fox's triple and a double from Charlie Collins. When Matt West singled to drive his Victorian counterpart Collins in, the Australians had pulled it back to a two-run ballgame.
South Australian Riley Yeatman tossed a scoreless inning to start the ballgame, while Queenslander Ian Lee kept the Cuban offence quiet late, only surrendering three base-runners in 1.2 innings.
The second round of U15 World Cup action begins in Panama on Friday morning, with Australia's schedule to be confirmed by the WBSC.