Fallon Sherrock stole the show on Night Two of the 2020 Unibet Premier League as she drew 6-6 with Glen Durrant in Nottingham on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sherrock, who became a global sensation at Alexandra Palace in December by becoming the first woman to win matches at the World Championship, picked up where she left off at a packed out Motorpoint Arena.<\/p>\n
Starring as the first woman in Premier League history, Sherrock came agonisingly close to becoming the first Challenger to win a Premier League match.<\/p>\n
A nervy start to the contest saw the first six legs shared with both players missing darts at doubles, before Sherrock took out 92 for a 12-dart break of throw.<\/p>\n
The next three legs all went with throw as Sherrock took out 46 to secure a draw, but three-time BDO champion Durrant fought back to take the match all the way to a 12th leg.<\/p>\n
With Sherrock waiting on 48 for the match, Durrant pinned double 16 with his last dart to maintain an unbeaten start to his debut Premier League campaign, ending hopes of a roof-raising finish for Sherrock. <\/p>\n
“I loved every minute of the experience, I’m so happy to get a draw,” said Sherrock.<\/p>\n
“It was amazing, I’m so happy to have played well again in front of a big crowd and it was a privilege to play against Glen.<\/p>\n
“I want to thank everyone who came out to support me, I’m so grateful to them all.<\/p>\n
“I’m trying to make the most of all the opportunities I’m getting at the moment and I can’t wait for everything else 2020 could bring.”<\/p>\n
Premier League newcomer Durrant, who got his maiden Premier League campaign off to a perfect start in Aberdeen on Night One, was left to rue 17 missed double attempts.<\/p>\n
However, the 70 checkout under immense pressure in the final leg maintained his unbeaten start to the season.<\/p>\n
“All credit goes to Fallon there, that was the toughest game I’ve ever had,” Durrant admitted.<\/p>\n
“It was a real challenge. I think playing Fallon on that stage was a lot harder than I maybe anticipated.<\/p>\n
“The crowd were fantastic, I want to make it clear that they didn’t put me off at all.”<\/p>\n
Five-time Premier League winner Michael van Gerwen is the only player to boast a 100% record following the opening two nights with an impressive 7-1 victory over Daryl Gurney.<\/p>\n
The world number one was at his dominant best, averaging 105.05 to blow away Gurney, who sits at the foot of the table with back-to-back defeats.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t make any mistakes tonight, and I had to because Daryl is a very consistent player,” said Van Gerwen.<\/p>\n
“It’s good but I know I can do better than this and I know there is more in the tank.<\/p>\n
“I think the crowd were superb tonight for all the players, we all want to perform for them.<\/p>\n
“I’m back where I belong and that’s at the top of the table.”<\/p>\n
Scottish World Cup winning teammates Gary Anderson and Peter Wright played out an intriguing 6-6 draw.<\/p>\n
The opening four legs all went with throw before Wright, who was struggling with an ankle injury, struck an 11-dart leg for the first break to go 3-2 up.<\/p>\n
The following three legs were all won in six visits or more as the two powerhouses of the sport struggled to produce their red-hot recent form, before Anderson found double 16 to go 5-4 in front.<\/p>\n
However, two-time World Champion Anderson was unable to find the decisive break of throw as World Champion Wright fought back, ending the match with a 12-dart leg to avoid beginning his campaign with back-to-back defeats.<\/p>\n
Last year’s runner-up Rob Cross twice came from behind to defeat Nathan Aspinall 7-5 in a nip-and-tuck affair.<\/p>\n
In a game which never saw more than a leg between the pair, Cross trailed 4-3 but finishes of 116 and 112 proved decisive as he avenged his defeat to Aspinall in the 2019 UK Open final.<\/p>\n
“I’m very pleased to win tonight, it was a hard game to win against an in-form player,” said Cross.<\/p>\n
“I’m on a new path at the moment and I feel brilliant. I’ve lost almost three stone since the World Championship.<\/p>\n
“I’d been doing things wrong for the last couple of years so I decided it’s time to look after myself.<\/p>\n
“I want the best I can from this game and to get that I have to do the right things on and off the stage.”<\/p>\n
A night of comebacks and close encounters saw world number three Gerwyn Price recovered from 6-2 down to salvage a point against Michael Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith was at his fluent best in the first eight legs, averaging over 110 as he secured his first point of the campaign.<\/p>\n
However, the 2018 Premier League runner-up was unable to get over the winning line, missing two match darts as Price dug deep to win four successive legs to maintain his unbeaten star to the season.<\/p>\n
The 2020 Unibet Premier League continues with Night Three in Cardiff on Thursday February 20 as Wales’ top two stars Price and Jonny Clayton take on Gurney and Smith respectively.<\/p>\n
2020 Unibet Premier League Night Two
\nThursday February 13
\nMotorpoint Arena, Nottingham
\nRob Cross 7-5 Nathan Aspinall
\nGerwyn Price 6-6 Michael Smith
\nGary Anderson 6-6 Peter Wright
\nGlen Durrant 6-6 Fallon Sherrock
\nMichael van Gerwen 7-1 Daryl Gurney<\/p>\n
Night Three
\nThursday February 20
\nMotorpoint Arena, Cardiff
\nPeter Wright v Rob Cross
\nJonny Clayton v Michael Smith
\nMichael van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall
\nDaryl Gurney v Gerwyn Price
\nGlen Durrant v Gary Anderson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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