World Cup - Quarterfinals
ENGLAND EDGE OUT JAPAN AS WALES, BELGIUM & FINLAND REACH BETFAIR WORLD CUP OF DARTS SEMI-FINALS
ENGLAND'S Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis remain on course to retain their Betfair World Cup of Darts title despite a scare against Japan on Sunday afternoon, as Belgium, Finland and Wales joined them in the semi-finals in Hamburg.
The reigning champions found themselves in danger of crashing out of the £150,000 event despite a superb individual performance from Taylor, who averaged 107.83 in his 4-1 Singles victory over Haruki Muramatsu.
Japan's Sho Katsumi then defeated Lewis 4-3 in their Singles tie to force a decisive Doubles contest, which the Japanese pair then led 2-0 to threaten a huge upset. Taylor, though, took out 84 and 160 to level for England before they won the next two legs to move into the last four.
"It was a tough game so we're obviously relieved to be through because Japan played very well and you can see how their confidence has grown throughout the weekend," admitted Taylor. We're in the semis now and we know what we have to do to lift the title tonight. Playing Wales, who we know a bit better, makes it easier because we know the size of the task."
Lewis admitted: "I felt like I'd let Phil down when I lost the Singles game and I didn't perform, but his 160 was a massive shot and it took a weight off my shoulders. It's great to be in the semis and I'd love to lift the title again."
Wales, the 2010 finalists, continued their superb World Cup of Darts record by reaching the semi-finals in Hamburg for a second successive year in another exciting contest, as they edged out Spain in a Doubles decider.Mark Webster edged a 4-3 win over Antonio Alcinas, who missed five darts to win the deciding leg of their Singles clash, before Carlos Rodriguez defied a 156 finish from Richie Burnett before holding his nerve to win their contest 4-3.Spain led 2-1 in the Doubles clash, but Webster hit the winning double in the next three legs as he led Wales into the last four.
"It was a battle and there was no great pattern to the performance, but hopefully we can kick on this evening in the semi-finals," said left-hander Webster. "We're doing enough in each of the games to beat the opposition in front of us.It would be great to go all the way and win the title this year, and we're in the semi-finals now so there's no reason why we can't win it - but it will be tough."
Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts, meanwhile, wasted little time in securing their semi-final spot with two Singles victories in their tie with Croatia.Kim Huybrechts set the tone with a strong display to defeat Tonci Restovic 4-2 - despite the Croatian hitting finishes of 97 and 104 - before older brother Ronny saw off Robert Marijanovic 4-1 to book their semi-final spot.
"It's the best feeling for me to be in the semi-finals of the World Cup playing alongside my brother," said Kim, with the pair continuing their challenge for a victory in memory of their late father Ludo, who passed away in December. We know we'll have to be better in the semi-finals if we're going to go on from here, but even though this was 2-0 it was never easy because Robert and Tonci have had a fantastic tournament."
They will now meet Finland, whose impressive challenge continued with a dramatic Doubles win over host nation Germany, after they also knocked out 2010 champions Netherlands on Saturday night.Jyhan Artut got the Germans off to a flying start in their quarter-final tie by hitting finishes of 106 and 102 in his 4-1 win over Jani Haavisto, but Jarkko Komula defeated Andree Welge 4-2 to ensure a Doubles decider.Finland led 3-1 only to miss a host of match darts in the next two legs as Germany forced a deciding leg, in which Komula hit a 180 and Haavisto - who won a PDC Tour Card at Qualifying School a fortnight ago - landed the key double eight.
"It's really exciting for us to be in the semi-finals and it felt great to finally get the winning double," said Haavisto. "To beat Holland on Saturday night was a surprise but it was great, and to win again is amazing. The crowd were behind Germany and that made it hard, but now that we're in the semi-finals anything can happen."