Rob Cross benefits from 'disgusting' Premier League Darts deflection as Luke Littler falls short

Luke Littler, the young darts star, was defeated by Rob Cross in Exeter, falling just short of reaching the Premier League Darts final. Despite a strange stroke of luck early on, 'The Nuke' still lost 6-3 to 'Voltage', who then went on to lose in the final against Nathan Aspinall.

Littler had been expected to do well after he beat Michael 'Bully Boy' Smith 6-2 in the quarter-final, with an average score of just under 107. Smith, who also scored over 100 on average, couldn't keep up with the 17-year-old once he got into his stride.

But Cross proved to be a tough opponent, beating Gerwyn Price 6-1 and giving 'The Nuke' a warning of what was to come. Sure enough, Cross quickly took a two-leg lead when he and Littler started their semi-final match.

Then Littler seemed to get a bit of luck. A dart that looked like it was heading for the treble 20 took a big bounce, but instead of landing in the one or the five, it ended up in the treble 18.

"That is a sickening deflection where Rob Cross is concerned," said Sky Sports commentator Dan Dawson. "That is disgusting."

The extra 54 points were very helpful for Littler, who looked surprised by his good luck. He then stepped up and scored 52 on his next turn to break Cross, reduce the gap and make the score 2-1.

Littler managed to tie the game at two legs each and then again at three all. But when Cross took the lead again, he stayed ahead.

Both 'Voltage' and Littler didn't play their best in Exeter, with neither hitting an average of 95. Yet, Cross did what was needed to beat the young player.

Littler hasn't reached a Premier League Darts final since the second night in Berlin.

Still, the young star is doing well in his first big season. He's third in the rankings and was in the