Cricket Day arrived at the WDF World Masters. And I know what you’re thinking: what’s that got to do with darts? Well, I’m sure 99% of readers know it’s a form of the game that’s particularly popular across the Atlantic.
This has nothing to do with anyone strolling out like Ben Stokes to the crease, or a few tungsten aficionados stationed on the boundary waiting to take a catch. No, it’s very different.
In a nutshell – and this is about the smallest nutshell I can put it in – the concept revolves around the numbers 15-20 and the bullseye. Essentially, it’s about hitting all the required targets and scoring the most points before your opponent does.
There are countless rules and a million different tactics involved. But quite frankly, I can’t be arsed going into them all. It took me long enough to understand the thing myself.
Anyway, the players knew what they were doing, and that’s all that matters. I was amused by the US commentary suggesting the marker wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about Cricket and had apparently made it clear before the matches that he wasn’t keen on reffing. To be honest, that simply made me want to watch it even more.
Onto the champs.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET MEN’S SINGLES
One person who definitely understood the game was experienced Canadian Jeff Smith. Which is ironic, because ice hockey is supposed to be their thing. And from what I know about international cricket – which is a lot – his nation are pretty crap.
That said, I was in contact with Jeff throughout the tournament and had his nice little winner’s picture designed at the quarter-final stage, such was my belief in the great man.
Keeping with an actual cricket theme – one that will probably be lost on The Silencer – he smashed everyone for six and, after defeating Dutchman Jarno Bottenberg in the final, proudly raised his bat in the air like he’d just scored a century. Everyone loves Jeff. Well, maybe not Jarno at that particular moment. And that would be tested further later in the afternoon.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET WOMEN’S SINGLES
Victory in this one went the way of another famous cricketing nation: Norway. Rachna David whitewashed Eve Watson in the final.
If you’re wondering why I’m not putting the averages up, it’s because they mean absolutely nothing to me. Jeff texted to say he’d averaged 5.0, which meant precisely bugger all. He may as well have been trying to teach me how to change a car engine in Greek for all I knew.
Anyway, Rachna finished on a 3.38, which is just shy of some of the lads’ averages in real darts down my local.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET BOYS’ SINGLES
Another Canadian claimed this one, with Peyton Hammond getting the better of England’s Ben Townley in the showdown.
I’ll put the averages down because they obviously mean something to some people. Peyton finished with a 3.98, while Ben was slightly higher on 4.06. It just goes to show that, even in this format, having the bigger number doesn’t always mean you win.
I’ve certainly never seen a cricket match where the side scoring fewer runs were crowned champions.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET GIRLS’ SINGLES
This time, someone a little closer to home prevailed, with Northern Ireland’s Ruth Bell edging Canada’s Jayda Hammond in a thrilling last-leg decider.
I guessed Jayda might be the sister of Boys’ Champion Peyton Hammond, so I asked one of their compatriots – the bloke who won the Men’s title.
Jeff: “I assume so.” Great insight there, mate.
Ruth hails from Portadown – well, that’s where her parents Jason and Pauline are from, so it’s a fairly safe bet. Having enjoyed a good few days in Limerick on WDF Europe Youth duty, Miss Bell then flew across the pond and picked up silverware in Vegas.
Ding dong, young lady. Well done.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET MEN’S PAIRS
Onto the doubles – or pairs if you prefer – and two of the players who claimed Masters titles struck gold again, starting with these two chaps.
Keegan Brown and that man again, Jeff Smith, buddied up like a darting Bert & Ernie to overcome everyone in their path.
Two genuine geezers who are probably helping old ladies cross the road and saving the whales in their spare time, away from their darting sainthoods. Keegz is a registered nurse and, during COVID, was basically the oche version of Florence Nightingale. If you’re drunk in your local and accidentally fire one of your arrows into your mate’s arse, Mr Brown is exactly the man you’d want nearby.
As for Jeff, he’s more laid back than an IKEA deckchair assembled by someone who failed to read the simple instructions. A suave, sophisticated master of tungsten who possesses all the charm of a dodgy car salesman without the guilty conscience afterwards.
The pair defeated Dutch duo Jarno Bottenberg and Ron Meulenkamp in the final. It’s incredibly difficult to dislike Jeff, but I suspect Jarno came closer than most this week.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET WOMEN’S PAIRS
Once again, Deta Hedman was picking up a trophy. You can’t keep a good woman down for long. And that wasn’t a euphemism, Mr Paul James – nor indeed a suggestion.
Teaming up with experienced Netherlander Anca Zijlstra, they crushed Canadian duo Wenda Carter and Josianne Fenech in the final without conceding a single leg.
There aren’t many guarantees in life. Some people say death and taxes. You can add Deta Hedman taking home silverware from any global darts competition to that list.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET BOYS’ PAIRS
The other pair of Masters champions, Ben Townley and Jack Courtney, went all the way again. This time, the boys cruised to a 3-0 victory over – you guessed it – yet more Canadians.
One of those said Maple Leaf’s was Peyton Hammond, who had already claimed the Singles title by defeating Ben, so this was probably particularly satisfying for the St Helens slinger.
A nice cheeky little double for a partnership I was going to nickname either Towney or Courtley. On reflection, both sound dreadful, so we’ll stick with Ben and Jack.
That makes them either sound like a pair of off-duty New York cops who spend their spare time winning darts tournaments, or the founders of a new ice cream company. Take your pick.
WDF WORLD MASTERS – CRICKET GIRLS’ PAIRS
And in this one, the honest nation had reason to celebrate, with two of the USA’s finest up-and-coming female arrow-smiths grabbing the glory.
Like I said, over in North America they love their Cricket. I’m surprised they don’t get padded up and give the real thing a go.
Nataly Pruett and Renae Warren triumphed for the Stars and Stripes with a 3-1 victory over neighbours Canada in the showpiece final. Canada featured in a hell of a lot of these eight finals, it must be said.
Not much else I can tell you about this one except that, according to Darts Connect, the final was played on board number 100. Either they genuinely had that many boards up, or they simply decided to give the outside boards their moment in the sun.
Either way, success for America in this one.
Congratulations to all the winners, and a consoling nod from sunny Warrington in North-West England to those who were pipped at the post.
