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Wales 3 – 1 South Africa

Wales went through to the semi-finals of the World Cup after coming out on top in an exciting encounter with South Africa.

The result of the match was decided in a tense deciding leg after Wales had won one and lost one of the singles games, and were tied 3-3 in the pairs.

Mark Webster had cruised past Shawn Hogan with a stunning display before Richie Burnett was edged out by Devon Petersen.

The pair teamed up to come through the doubles and set up a potential semi-final tie with tournament favourites England.

MARK WEBSTER 4 – 0 Shawn Hogan

Mark Webster continued his remarkable run of form in the World Cup with a second consecutive whitewash. The Welshman wasted little time in grabbing the first point of the match for Wales by beating South Africa’s Shawn Hogan 4-0.

Webster produced some clinical checkouts. He took out 94 to win the first leg and 76 to take the second. ‘Spider’ raced into a 3-0 lead by hitting double ten. He posted his first maximum in the fourth and final leg, which he won with a brilliant eleven darter.

Richie Burnett 3 – 4 Devon Petersen

Richie Burnett suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of promising youngster Devon Petersen, meaning Wales’ fate would be decided in the pairs.

Burnett fell behind but responded with a maximum before drawing level. Petersen retook the lead and Burnett replied with another 180, before hitting double two to restore parity.

The young South African went back in front with a 105 checkout, but Burnett refused to be beaten and took out 41 to set up a deciding leg. The Prince of Wales hit 140, 180 and then 130 in the final leg but it wasn’t enough as Petersen took out 116 to win the game and draw the match level on points.

WEBSTER & Burnett 4 – 3 Hogan & Petersen

Wales secured their semi-final spot by winning an intense decider in the doubles. Mark Webster and Richie Burnett were made to work hard by the South African pairing of Shawn Hogan and Devon Petersen, but the Welshmen won the battle to progress.

Webster hit double top to give Wales the lead and Burnett hit double ten to double it. Hogan took out 100 to pull a leg back for South Africa and then 52 to draw level.

Burnett hit double eight to edge Wales back in front but Hogan took out 121 to set up a deciding leg. Webster just missed the bull for a 122 finish before Burnett hit double eight, making Petersen pay for a miscount.

Wales will play either England or USA in tomorrow’s semi-final.

By Chris Murphy

Australia 3 – 1 Belgium

Australia progressed into the semi-finals of the World Cup in Hamburg when Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson produced a stunning display in the doubles to dump Belgium out of the tournament.

Whitlock beat Kurt van de Rijck in straight legs before Nicholson suffered a defeat, meaning that the match would be decided by the doubles game.

Australia were sensational in the decider, and are looking like the team to beat after another convincing win.

SIMON WHITLOCK 4 – 0 Kurt van de Rijck

Simon Whitlock whitewashed Kurt van de Rijck to put Australia a point ahead in the quarter-final. ‘The Wizard’ produced a clinical display in his singles match in Hamburg, which he completed in double quick time.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Whitlock hit double ten to win both of the first two legs. ‘The Wizard’ hit double top to take the third leg with a tidy thirteen darter. He then responded to a 180 from his opponent by hammering in two of his own as he completed a convincing victory.

PAUL NICHOLSON 2 – 4 Kim Huybrechts

Paul Nicholson was beaten by Kim Huybrechts in the second singles match of the quarter-final against Belgium, meaning the match would be decided by the pairs match.

Huybrechts hit the bull to take the lead but ‘The Asset’ hit straight back. He hit double nine to level things up before slotting in his first maximum. Huybrechts took out 111 and then 129 to take a 3-1 lead. Nicholson then hit double 18 to keep himself in the match, before hammering home another maximum under pressure. But it was Huybrechts who won the leg, to draw Belgium level on points.

WHITLOCK & NICHOLSON 4 – 2 van de Rijck & Huybrechts

Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson finished off their opponents in a high quality doubles match. The Australian pair produced a stunning display of relentless scoring and sharp finishing to progress to the semi-finals.

Whitlock opened with a maximum and went on to hit double eight to give Australia the lead. Nicholson hit his first 180 in leg two before ‘The Wizard’ hit his second, setting up his teammate to take out 41.

Belgium pulled a leg back before Whitlock hit double top to move a leg away from the semi-finals. Huybrechts hit double ten to keep Belgium in the match and then applied the pressure on the Aussies with a 180. Nicholson hit back with high scoring though and Whitlock hit double top to seal the victory.

By Chris Murphy

World Cup of Darts: Round 2: The Netherlands 3 – 1 Austria

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD & VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 5 – 2 Dietmar Burger & Mensur Suljovic

Raymond van Barneveld and Vincent van der Voort joined forces to produce a solid display as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Dutch pair, defending their nation’s title, saw off the challenge of Austria with apparent ease.

Van der Voort got the ball rolling by hitting double one to win a tense opening leg. ‘The Dutch Destroyer’ then hit double top to move Holland into a 2-0 lead. He then took out 44 to complete an eleven dart leg for the Dutch team.

Mensur Suljovic pulled a leg back for Austria with a 121 checkout before van Barneveld hit double ten to move within a leg of victory. Austria grabbed a lifeline by winning the next leg but ‘Barney’ wrapped up the match with a smooth 76 checkout.

The Netherlands will take on Northern Ireland tonight as they bid to move a step closer to claiming their second consecutive World Cup title.

By Chris Murphy