Top seed Deta is deadly as she topples Farlam

Essex’s Deta Hedman justified her top seeding, winning through to her first final after toppling Buxton’s Lorraine Farlam 2-1 in a 46-minute gripper.

At the end of the day it came down to a sudden death one set play-off after the opening 10 legs of the two sets went with the throw.

Hedman fired out a warning with a 180 and 177 and 14-dart leg in the third leg of the first set, which she took on double five.

The Buxton player produced a stunning 100 checkout in two darts to defend her throw in the second leg, Hedman replying with a set-levelling 78, finishing on double tops.

The following two legs went with the throw, Farlam with the advantage edging ahead in the deciding fifth leg, Hedman applying pressure with a 140. The Buxton beautician failed to put away 100 and Hedman was wide of the mark for a match-winning double tops for 113, Farlam clearing up with double 10 to level the match.

The opening leg of the third set went with the throw but wayward darts for the 36-year-old fourth seed let in Hedman on double 18 – the first leg to go against the throw. With the advantage the top seed trailed Farlam who held her nerve to hit double 10 after Hedman missed double 16 and then double eight for a match-winning 86 finish.

In the fourth leg Farlam missed an agonising five darts before scrambling to double two after nervous Hedman missed double tops and double 10 for a 97 checkout for victory.

It was nip and tuck in the fifth until Hedman fired in a 180 to leave double tops which she clinched with her third attempt to win through to her first final, producing the top average of the women’s tournament – 26.37.