Coral Sydney Darts Masters Day OneⅠ

Two-time World Champion Lewis had looked set to suffer a first round exit at the Qantas Credit Union Arena when he fell 4-1 down to Whitlock, who capitalized on a slow start from his opponent by finishing 140 and 100, as well as a key 68 checkout.

Lewis, though, fired his challenge with a 177 as he took the sixth leg, before checking out double ten to continue his revival and double five to level in leg eight as Whitlock was punished for missed doubles.

Lewis then claimed a fourth successive leg as he posted double five to lead 5-4, and though he missed one match dart in the next as Whitlock forced a decider, the Stoke star produced a timely 11-darter to complete a gutsy fight back.

"I'm pleased to get through that because Simon's a top ten player, but I wasn't happy with my own form," admitted Lewis. "I was frustrated with myself but I got away with it in the end.

"My final leg was great - I went out in 11 darts and he'd have had to hit a nine-darter to beat that, so it was pleasing to win like that."

Lewis now takes on World Champion Gary Anderson in Friday's quarter-finals, after the Scot brushed aside New Zealand's Warren Parry 6-0.

Parry initially missed three doubles to claim the opening leg as Anderson stepped in on double five, before the Scot posted a 180 in a 12-darter to move two legs up.

Further maximums helped Anderson into a four-leg lead and he punished missed doubles from Parry to win the fifth on double two, and the Premier League champion then posted his fourth 180 before hitting double ten to seal his place in the last eight.

"I wasn't happy with my performance and I can improve on this, but I got the job done," said Anderson. "He had a few chances but couldn't convert them, and I got through.

"My average was about 95 tonight and I'm still not happy with that - I want to be 100+, but I'm through and that's what matters. He was more or less a home player so the crowd were on his side, and it makes it that wee bit harder."

Reigning Sydney Darts Masters champion Taylor continued his incredible unbeaten record on Australian soil in the PDC World Series of Darts with a 6-2 win over Clinton 'Tic' Bridge in their first round game.

Taylor has won both the 2013 and 2014 Sydney Darts Masters events and also retained his Perth Darts Masters title last weekend, with the victory over Geelong-based brick layer Bridge seeing him move to 17 matches without defeat over five events.

Taylor kicked off the game with a 180 before taking the opening leg in 13 darts on double four, but Bridge leveled by finishing 84 before following up double eight from the Stoke legend with a 60 checkout in the fourth.

Taylor, though, opened the fifth leg with a 180 as he regained the lead on double ten, before taking a game-changing sixth leg with a stunning bulls-eye to finish 85 - after Bridge had missed the single 16 to leave tops when needing 72.

Taylor then took out double 18 to move 5-2 up before sealing victory in style by hitting another 180 and then taking out 127 on the bull.

"I love Australia and I'm enjoying every minute of this trip so far," said Taylor. "It's good to get this game out of the way because he's a good little player and I know he's beaten Barney before.

"He finished well under pressure and when you're level at two-each you don't know what he's going to do. Everything starts to go through your mind so I can relax now that I've got this over with."

Taylor now meets Stephen Bunting on Friday in a repeat of last year's final in Sydney, after the St Helens ace began his bid to go one better this time around with a commanding 6-1 win over David Platt, hitting six doubles from 12 attempts in a clinical win.

Bunting finished 109 and 110 as well as a 14-darter as he won the first four legs without reply, before Platt hit tops to get off the mark.

However, any hopes of a comeback for the DPA Australian Grand Prix number two were quickly ended as Bunting finished 75 for another 14-dart finish before landing double eight to seal the win.

"It's lovely to be back in Sydney," smiled Bunting, who lost in the first round of last week's Perth Darts Masters. "Reaching the final here last year was a big boost for my career and I'm hoping to go one better this week.

"I learned my lesson from last week in Perth when I went 3-1 down to Kyle Anderson and found it difficult to come back. I've changed a bit this week and made sure I started well.

"I've been one of the most consistent players in the World Series this year, and hopefully I can push that up to 100 averages.

"Sometimes it's easy to find the wins but for whatever reason I've struggled to get over the line in the last few tournaments, so hopefully I can build on this win."
 

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