Cash Converters World Cup Semi-Finals Round-Up

TRADITIONAL sporting rivals England and Australia will contest the final of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts following victories over Wales and the Netherlands on Sunday afternoon.

The English pair of Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis defeated 2010 runner-up Wales 5-1 to secure their place in the final.

Taylor had lost the opening Singles game 4-1 against an inspired Richie Burnett, who averaged 108.93, before Lewis kick-started their challenge with a 105.47 average in whitewashing Mark Webster.

Taylor then defeated Webster 4-1 before Lewis took out 155 and 111 in defeating Burnett 4-3, before the pair took the Doubles contest 4-2 to seal their place in the final.

"It's unbelievable to be in the final," said Lewis, the reigning World Champion. "England have won a few Ashes Series in the cricket against Australia and it would be fantastic to do it tonight."

Taylor had lost in Singles games earlier in the tournament against Canada and the USA, but admitted: "Adrian pulled me out of the fire there but I was trying so hard in the Singles games.

"I'll try to relax and enjoy the final now, and it would be brilliant to win this title with Adrian."

Australia, meanwhile, knocked out reigning champions Netherlands, as Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson continued their brilliant form in the £150,000 tournament.

Raymond van Barneveld, with a superb display, whitewashed Nicholson to claim the Dutch team's only point in a 5-1 defeat, with both Australians defeating Vincent van der Voort before winning the Doubles contest 4-0.

"It would mean everything to me and Simon to win this," said Nicholson, who was born in the UK but qualifies to represent Australia having been based in Melbourne.

"There's something about this week which is giving both Simon and myself a lot of confidence and we're loving it. The DPA in Australia is doing a great job bringing through players and we're proud to be representing them."

Whitlock added: "I'm thrilled with how the weekend is going and we're so proud to be playing for Australia. We'll give it our best shot in the final and hopefully will win."

The final will also feature a combination of Singles and Doubles games, all being played over the best of 13 legs.

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Sunday February 5
Afternoon Session (3pm-6.30pm)
Semi-Finals
Semi-finals consist of four best of seven leg Singles games followed by a best of seven leg Doubles match (if required).
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles. Loser throws first.
If the match finishes all square (3-3), a sudden-death Doubles leg will be played with a bull-up on stage to determine who throws first. Once a team has an unassailable lead, the tie is over and no further matches shall be played.
All games are the best of seven legs.

Australia v Netherlands
Simon Whitlock 4-3 Vincent van der Voort
Paul Nicholson 0-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock 4-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Paul Nicholson 4-2 Vincent van der Voort
Doubles - Australia 4-0 Netherlands
Final Score: Australia 5-1 Netherlands

England v Wales
Phil Taylor 1-4 Richie Burnett
Adrian Lewis 4-0 Mark Webster
Phil Taylor 4-1 Mark Webster
Adrian Lewis 4-3 Richie Burnett
Doubles - England 4-2 Wales
Final Score: England 5-1 Wales

Semi-Final Match Information
Australia v Netherlands
Simon Whitlock v Vincent van der Voort
0-1 - Whitlock misses six darts to take the opening leg and van der Voort steps in on double six.
1-1 - Whitlock levels by hitting double top.
2-1 - Whitlock posts double eight to break throw and lead.
3-1 - The Australian opens with scores of 140 and 180 before hitting double eight again to move a leg away from the win.
3-2 - van der Voort posts a 180 and is handed a reprieve for three misses at tops when Whitlock fails to finish 110 to allow the Dutchman back in to win the fifth leg.
3-3 - van der Voort hits a 174 score, and when Whitlock misses the bull for victory he posts double eight to take the match to a decider.
4-3 - Whitlock is first to a double and takes out tops to give Australia the first point.
Australia 1-0 Netherlands

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	4-3	Vincent van der Voort
7	100+	7
7	140+	4
1	180	1
31.54	Ave1	29.09
94.62	Ave3	87.28
64	High Finish	40
2	Breaks of Throw	1
4/14 - 29%	Finishing %	3/10 - 30%

Paul Nicholson v Raymond van Barneveld
0-1 - Nicholson misses a dart to lead and van Barneveld steps in on double top.
0-2 - A two-dart 62 finish sees van Barneveld double his advantage.
0-3 - van Barneveld maintains his 100 average by taking out 45 on double 16.
0-4 - van Barneveld secures victory in style with a 148 checkout, finishing with a 100.20 average.
Australia 1-1 Netherlands

Match Stats

Paul Nicholson	0-4	Raymond van Barneveld
5	100+	7
1	140+	5
0	180	0
27.93	Ave1	33.40
83.80	Ave3	100.20
0	High Finish	148
0	Breaks of Throw	3
0/1 - 0%	Finishing %	4/5 - 80%

Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 and adds a 140, but misses five darts to lead and Whitlock posts double nine to lead.
2-0 - Double ten puts Whitlock two legs up.
3-0 - Whitlock hits a 180 to leave 44, and moves a leg away from victory on double eight.
3-1 - van Barneveld keeps the game alive with double 13.
3-2 - van Barneveld finishes 87 on the bull to pull back to within a leg.
4-2 - Whitlock completes victory with double eight to put Australia ahead in the tie.
Australia 2-1 Netherlands

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	4-2	Raymond van Barneveld
10	100+	6
4	140+	6
1	180	1
31.78	Ave1	30.48
95.35	Ave3	91.43
44	High Finish	87
2	Breaks of Throw	1
4/8 - 50%	Finishing %	2/7 - 29%

Paul Nicholson v Vincent van der Voort
0-1 - van der Voort punishes a missed double from Nicholson by hitting double eight to lead.
1-1 - Nicholson wins his first leg of the day on double top.
2-1 - Nicholson edges in front on double eight.
2-2 - van der Voort levels the game on double 16.
3-2 - Nicholson finishes double 16 to move back ahead.
4-2 - Nicholson opens with a 180 and scores 134 and 168 before landing double eight for a superb 11-darter to take victory.
Australia 3-1 Netherlands

Match Stats

Paul Nicholson	4-2	Vincent van der Voort
5	100+	7
4	140+	1
1	180	0
29.80	Ave1	24.94
89.41	Ave3	74.82
40	High Finish	32
2	Breaks of Throw	0
4/7 - 57%	Finishing %	2/6- 33%

Doubles: Australia v Netherlands
1-0 - Nicholson misses two darts at tops for a 100 finish, but Whitlock posts double ten to give the Australians the advantage.
2-0 - Nicholson hits the same bed to double Australia's advantage.
3-0 - Whitlock takes out 105 to put Australia a leg away from the final.
4-0 - Whitlock now finishes 110 to put Australia into the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts final.
Final Score: Australia 5-1 Netherlands

Match Stats

Australia	4-0	Netherlands
9	100+	2
3	140+	2
0	180	0
29.91	Ave1	24.64
89.73	Ave3	73.91
110,105	High Finish	0
3	Breaks of Throw	0
4/9 - 44%	Finishing %	0/0 - 0%

England v Wales
Phil Taylor v Richie Burnett
0-1 - Taylor misses tops for a 109 finish, and Burnett punishes him by taking out double ten.
0-2 - Burnett hits a 180 and lands double ten again to move two legs up.
1-2 - Burnett lands another maximum but Taylor finishes 111 clinically on tops.
1-3 - Double top moves Burnett a leg away from the win.
1-4 - Taylor misses double 16 for a 106 finish, and Burnett takes out 76 to give Wales the first point with a sensational 108.93 average.
England 0-1 Wales

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	1-4	Richie Burnett
9	100+	6
2	140+	6
0	180	2
31.76	Ave1	36.31
95.29	Ave3	108.93
111	High Finish	76
0	Breaks of Throw	3
1/3 - 33%	Finishing %	4/5 - 80%

Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster
1-0 - Webster hits the game's first 180 but Lewis punishes two misses from the Welshman by hitting tops.
2-0 - Lewis opens with a 180 and hits tops to double his lead.
3-0 - Lewis brilliantly scores 174, 121 and 174 before finishing double eight for an 11-darter.
4-0 - Lewis hits two 180s and seals a 13-darter with double two to complete a whitewash with with a 105.47 average.
England 1-1 Wales

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	4-0	Mark Webster
3	100+	3
2	140+	2
3	180	1
35.16	Ave1	27.62
105.47	Ave3	82.86
48	High Finish	0
4	Breaks of Throw	0
4/5 - 80%	Finishing %	0/2 - 0%

Phil Taylor v Mark Webster
1-0 - Taylor opens with a 174 and finishes double 16 to take the leg.
2-0 - Taylor doubles his lead by finishing 66 with bullseye and double eight.
2-1 - Webster hits double ten to halve the deficit.
3-1 - Webster misses a dart at tops and Taylor steps in to hit double three after being handed a reprieve.
4-1 - Taylor opens with a 177 and hits two more treble 20s in a 127, before finishing 64 to secure his first Singles win of the tournament with an 11-darter.
England 2-1 Wales

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	4-1	Mark Webster
8	100+	3
4	140+	5
0	180	0
32.17	Ave1	28.82
96.51	Ave3	86.45
66	High Finish	40
2	Breaks of Throw	0
4/8 - 50%	Finishing %	1/4 - 25%

Adrian Lewis v Richie Burnett
1-0 - Brilliant start as Burnett hits a 180 but misses two darts at a double and Lewis powers home a 155 checkout.
1-1 - Lewis misses five darts at a double, and Burnett hits double ten to level.
1-2 - Burnett opens with scores of 180 and 140, and when Lewis misses two darts at tops the Welshman takes out 93 on the bull to lead.
2-2 - Lewis levels the game courtesy of double 16.
3-2 - Burnett misses darts at double 16 and double 12, and Lewis makes him pay with a 111 checkout.
3-3 - Lewis fails to take his chance to seal victory, and Burnett hits double nine to send the game into a deciding leg.
4-3 - Lewis opens with a 180 and lands tops to put England in a commanding position in the tie - meaning Wales have to win the Doubles game to force a sudden-death leg.
England 3-1 Wales

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	4-3	Richie Burnett
10	100+	5
4	140+	5
2	180	3
31.00	Ave1	29.21
93.00	Ave3	87.62
155,111	High Finish	93
2	Breaks of Throw	1
4/15 - 27%	Finishing %	3/11 - 27%

Doubles: England v Wales
1-0 - Lewis gives England the opening leg on double top.
1-1 - Burnett posts a 180 and then wins the leg on double ten.
2-1 - Taylor puts England in front by finishing 111.
3-1 - Taylor htis a 180 to open the leg, and Lewis lands another maximum to set up a potential nine-darter. Taylor hits the seventh treble 20, but misses the treble 19, although he sets up Lewis to finish double eight for a 12-darter.
3-2 - Burnet hits a 180 but Webster misses two darts at double eight - only for Taylor to miss two match darts and allow Burnett in on double two to keep the Welsh hopes alive.
4-2 - Lewis hits tops to put England into the final.
Final Score: England 5-1 Wales

Match Stats