WALES 3
SOUTH AFRICA 1
A MAJOR miscount helped Wales’ World Cup cause as they edged through to a last-four meeting with favourites England.
The Welsh progressed from their quarter-final in dramatic fashion against South Africa following a thrilling tie, which saw Webster whitewash Shawn Hogan, before Devon Petersen produced a 12-darter to defeat Richie Burnett 4-3.
The doubles match also went to a deciding leg, with Petersen thinking he had secured victory for South Africa only to realise - too late - that he had miscounted.
Richie returned to land double eight for the narrowest of wins at the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in Hamburg.
"I feel for Devon," said a sporting Burnett afterwards.
"He was fantastic in our singles match and he's a nice guy, so it was tough for him to miscount.
"We had loads of chances earlier to make it easier for ourselves but eventually we got the win, and that's all that matters.
“Me and Mark are bouncing off each other and loving the tournament."
Webster opened the tie with his match against Shawn Hogan and he bagged the first two legs to open up a cushion.
Mark hit double 10 to move to within one leg of victory and the Denbigh destroyer started the decider with a maximum.
He landed 174 to leave 24 after just nine darts and Webster then found double 12 to seal an impressive win in 11 darts.
The tie between Burnett and Peterson was far closer.
Petersen was never behind after he began impressively with a 13-darter.
Burnett hit a maximum in the next as he levelled at 1-1, while both players missed double 16, before Petersen returned to hit double eight in the next.
The topsy-turvy nature continued as the players shared the next two legs and Burnett defied a Peterson 180 in leg six to hit double 16 and force a decider.
Peterson opened the final leg with a 180 and 140, with Burnett posting scores of 140 and 180, which he followed with a 130 to leave 51.
However, Petersen brilliantly finished 116 for a 12-darter to grab a brilliant win.
Turning to the doubles and things initially looked good for Wales.
They opened with 140s and Webster hit double top to give his team the advantage, while Burnett successfully took out double 10 to make it 2-0.
Mark then missed a dart at tops for a 95 finish in the next and Hogan took out 100 in two darts, while Petersen hit a 180 in the next, and when both Welsh aces miss three darts apiece at double 16, Hogan showed them how to hit the bed to level.
Burnett got over his doubles trouble to give Wales the advantage again on double eight in leg five, but South Africa levelled to send the tie into a deciding final leg, with Petersen hitting a 180 to set up a 121 finish, which Hogan took out on double 18.
The seventh - and deciding - leg provided huge drama.
Webster missed the bull for a 122 finish to allow Petersen in on 61, but amazingly he miscounted after hitting single 12 with his first dart.
The South African number one hit seven and double 16 instead of 17 and double 16, allowing Burnett in to take victory on double eight.