Glen Durrant is through to the Last 16 of the 2020/21 PDC
World Darts Championship and has set up a clash against Dirk van Duijvenbode after a 4-2 victory over Danny Baggish.
Durrant was a dart away from a 4-0 win and was embroiled in a real battle from there with Baggish potentially forcing a deciding set but the Premier League champion finally got over the line with a 95 average, seven 180's and 45% on the doubles.
Baggish spurned an early chance to hold and Durrant was off
the mark with a break to begin the tie and a superb leg which saw Durrant hold with
double 20 saw him one away from the opening set.
Durrant missed bull for the set but Baggish missed two darts
to get his first leg on the board and the Premier League champion was back for
double four.
Baggish finally got his first leg on the board to hold and
found a 131 to begin Durrant’s leg but a 180 was his reply.
The American wasn’t able to follow up the bullseye to start
the 135 and Durrant corrected himself after a previous miss to pin double five.
Both kicked off with 180 on Baggish’s throw and Durrant was
on 60 after nine against throw only for Baggish to hit 127 to force a decider
in the second set.
Durrant pinned 32 with Baggish well back and not being able
to continue that momentum and the Teesside ace was 2-0 up in sets.
A 180 to leave 41 began the requisite set and Durrant led
with a break. A 117 checkout saw him go one away with a hold from a 3-0 lead.
Durrant missed 64 for the set and Baggish kept the set alive
last dart in hand on double five. He continued not to be able to trouble
Durrant and the former pinned 86 to go 3-0 up.
Double 20 for Durrant saw him go two legs away. A 180 and
141 gave Baggish an opportunity at a hold which he pinned on double 20.
Baggish applied late pressure leaving himself on 48 as well
but Durrant was up to that with some more clutch finishing.
A double 20 forced a deciding leg in the fourth set but
Durrant had the throw. Baggish hit a 177 and 135 as he aimed to claim a set
back and was first to a finish of 120.
But while ‘The Gambler’ was sat on that, Durrant had to
gamble on him missing and he did, as a result he was given a shot at 97 which
he couldn’t pin.
Baggish pinned a 65 checkout to claim a set back out of nowhere
in that deciding leg. He attempted to carry on that form from the last set leaving
84 and he missed bull to hold. Durrant as a result punished with a 71 checkout
to break.
Baggish missed double 11 for a 92 checkout but Durrant
missed 89 for a bull giving the former another chance which he took to break
back.
He missed 124 on the bull but Durrant was back on 170.
Baggish held as a result on double eight to go one away from a 3-2 deficit. He
grabbed that opportunity pinning double 10 to break.
Durrant hit the front as he looked to arrest the Baggish
revival and he pressured with a 180 with Baggish sat on 84 to hold which he
spurned with two shots on double 12.
But Durrant missed his chance and Baggish was back for
double six. Baggish missed double 10 for a 78 checkout to break and Durrant
returned to hold on double eight.
Durrant missed bull for 82 and Baggish pinned double five to
force a decider. But the former finally got over the line pinning a 62 checkout
with Baggish sat on double 20.
2021 PDC World Darts Championship schedule
Monday December 28
Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
Gary Anderson (92.45) 4-3 (89.71) Mensur Suljovic (3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 0-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-0)
Gerwyn Price (99.94) 4-3 (97.3) Brendan Dolan (3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2)
Glen Durrant (95.67) 4-2 (91.59) Danny Baggish (3-0, 3-2, 3-1, 2-3, 1-3, 3-2)