World No 1 completes eighth whitewash in Premier League history
Friday 28 April 2017 06:24, UK
Michael van Gerwen moved a step closer to securing top spot in the Premier League by recording a 7-0 victory over Adrian Lewis at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on Thursday night.
World champion Van Gerwen has topped the league table in each of his previous four seasons in the Premier League, going on to take the trophy in 2013 and 2016 and will do so again should he secure maximum points against Phil Taylor in Sheffield next Thursday.
The Dutchman ended the night three points clear of Peter Wright at the top of the standings, after a draw and a victory over Dave Chisnall and Lewis respectively.
Van Gerwen was forced to come off the canvas after being 5-2 down against Chisnall to secure a thrilling 6-6 draw.
Chizzy, who hit five maximums, missed three match darts which would have secured a famous win over the world No 1, and he was ultimately made to pay.
"You can be happy with a point," said Van Gerwen, who averaged 101.95. "I was lucky in the end, but I had a chance to do some damage at the start. It was a strange game."
Lewis - who hit a nine-darter a fortnight ago in Liverpool - failed to close in on the leading pack as James Wade produced a typically ruthless performance to inflict a 7-4 defeat on the Stoke thrower in the first match of the night.
Wade finished with 54 per cent on his doubles in a match where both players failed to hit a maximum, and 2011 Premier League finalist Lewis' night ended in the worst possible fashion when he suffered a humiliating loss to Van Gerwen.
It was just the eighth whitewash in Premier League history after Robert Thornton, Phil Taylor, James Wade, Simon Whitlock, Terry Jenkins and Wayne Mardle all suffered the same fate.
"It was extra special that I could do something like this," said Van Gerwen, who averaged 110.75. "I played well and I think I deserved to win 7-0. I'm happy with my three points and gives me a lot of confidence.
"I want to finish top of the table next week, so I want to win my match [against Phil Taylor] and get two points."
Peter Wright mathematically secured his first play-off appearance when he defeated six-time champion Taylor 7-3.
Fresh from sealing a second European Tour victory of the year in Germany at weekend, 'Snakebite' closed out victory with finishes of 116, 104 and 96.
In a battle of the former world champions, Gary Anderson cemented his spot in the top four with an impressive 7-4 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.
'The Flying Scotsman' averaged 105.47, making 54 per cent of his checkouts, and landing a 161 checkout en route to securing an important win.
"Against Phil Taylor last week it was a load of rubbish - I was 4-0 up and lost," said Anderson. "Getting two points tonight makes a big difference. It's been a hard season and you can see the table, there's nothing splitting it."
You can see all the action from the Sheffield Arena next Thursday from 7pm on Sky Sports 2 HD, including the clash between Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor.
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