29-7-19 matchplay final
PDC MATCHPLAY FINAL
ROB CROSS 17-15
MICHEAL SMITH
He began the contest with back-to-back 72 checkouts, and
added an 81 combination for a 12-darter before punishing misses from Smith in
three straight legs to pull clear.
St Helens' Smith had missed nine doubles during the opening
six legs of that spell, but finally found his range to take out 84 in two darts
to win leg ten.
Smith also won three of the next four to cut the gap, only
for Cross to steady his nerve with finishes of 73 and 115 before punishing five
misses from his rival to move 12-4 up.
The 2018 World Championship finalist hit back superbly with
legs of 12, 13 and 12 darts as he pulled back to 12-7, before a last-dart
double 16 from Cross gave him the 20th leg.
Smith, inspired by a capacity Winter Gardens crowd, claimed
another three legs - including an 11-darter - as he pulled back to 13-10, and
after Cross finished 110 the St Helens man came from 250 points behind to win
the 25th leg on double 18.
The next two were shared, before six misses from Cross
allowed Smith to cut the gap to just two legs at 15-13 as he threatened to
complete the greatest comeback in the event's history.
The Hastings ace, though, held his nerve with another 72
combination and posted double 16 to move to the brink of glory and sealed the
title with double four.
MY
OPINION
This could and should be Gurneys
title as in the semi he beat himself and did expect to reach the final. I think
that Cross was able to use that anger from the previous night and take it into Sundays
final.
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