Stan James World Matchplay - Wednesday Evening Reports

MATCH REPORTS from Wednesday night's second round games at the Stan James World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens.

Watch the action live on Sky Sports, and follow the scores and listen to Live Commentary in DartsTV.

Stan James World Matchplay
Wednesday Evening Session
Second Round
Adrian Lewis 13-9 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 13-6 Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld 13-5 Barrie Bates
Best of 25 legs

ADRIAN LEWIS 13-9 ANDY HAMILTON

ADRIAN LEWIS stepped up his bid to win the Stan James World Matchplay with a brilliant display to defeat Andy Hamilton 13-9.

The 22-year-old produced one of his finest showings in a major tournament to win the all-Stoke battle against Hamilton.

He averaged 100.45 - the best performance of the event so far - and checked out 45 percent of his doubles, as well as finishing the match with a splendid ten-darter.

Lewis admitted that a more relaxed approach aided his game as he moved into the quarter-finals for the second time in three years.

"I thought I was putting too much pressure on myself and instead I went up there to enjoy myself tonight," said Lewis. "I'm happy with my life and want to keep this going.

"It was hard playing a close friend in Andy, but I knew I had to do well here and I want to relax and move on from here."

Hamilton led 3-2 and 5-4 in a high-quality start to the match, which saw the 2006 World Matchplay semi-finalist take out 110 in the first leg and land two maximums.

However, Lewis stormed back into the match with a devastating burst of five successive legs to open up a 9-5 advantage.

Hamilton raised his game and took three of his own to reduce the gap to one leg, but Lewis regained his composure with a 52 finish in leg 18 and then a crucial break of throw in the next to go 11-8 up.

A brilliant 12-darter moved Lewis to the brink of victory, before a 104 finish from Hamilton kept him in the game.

Lewis, though, began the next leg with back-to-back 180s to set up a nine darter, and although the seventh was off-target he wrapped up the win on double 18 for a ten-darter.

Adrian Lewis	13-9	Andy Hamilton
32	100+	24
11	140+	13
5	180	3
33.48	Ave1	31.14
100.45	Ave3	93.42
95	High Finish	110, 104

PHIL TAYLOR v KEVIN PAINTER

PHIL TAYLOR'S charge towards a ninth Stan James World Matchplay title continued with a superb 13-6 win over Kevin Painter on Wednesday night.

Taylor produced the tournament's highest average yet at over 101, and a stunning run of nine successive legs saw him set up the win by moving out to 10-2 at one stage.

Taylor, who suffered defeats in the UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic earlier this summer, now meets Roland Scholten in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

"It's great to be through," said Taylor. "It was a tough game and really enjoyable to play in.

"This game is getting better and better. There are no easy games any more and it's fantastic, so great to watch.

"I'm pleased to get past the second round. Kevin never gave in and he really plays to win."

Painter led 2-1 early on after opening with legs of 13 and 14 darts, and had chances to break Taylor's throw in leg two.

Taylor then kicked into top gear, hitting a 180 on his way to the fourth leg, breaking Painter's throw in the fifth and then accelerating away to land a further seven straight legs.

Painter hit back to win three in a row, including a 120 "Shanghai" finish in the 15th, and then took out a brilliant 170 finish to make the scoreline 11-6.

But an unconventional 97 finish of single seven, bull and double top put Taylor to the brink of victory, and a fifth maximum of the game set up a double 17 finish in the next to wrap up another win on the Winter Gardens stage.

Phil Taylor	13-5	Kevin Painter
21	100+	24
14	140+	16
5	180	3
33.72	Ave1	31.80
101.15	Ave3	95.40
97	High Finish	170, 120

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 13-5 BARRIE BATES

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a clinical display to storm into the quarter-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 13-5 win over Barrie Bates.

The Dutchman kept himself on course for a third successive major title by seeing off Bates with a storming display at the Winter Gardens.

Bates - who limped throughout as he battled the pain of gout in his knee and ankle - led 2-1 early on but had no answer to the World Champion's power scoring and superb finishing, with van Barneveld checking out 62 percent of his doubles.

"I struggled in the first five legs but Barrie played well," said van Barneveld. "I knew he had his injury and when I pulled away to 7-3 that it would be very hard for him to come back, no matter how well he played.

"I could relax then and enjoy the game. I'm relaxed and having the time of my life at the moment, and hopefully I can do well in the rest of this tournament."

Van Barneveld will certainly be hard to stop in his current form, with two ton-plus finishes accompanied by three 12-darters during the course of the game.

He made a crucial first break of the game in the seventh leg of the match on double top, with Bates waiting on 36 himself.

He quickly pulled clear, including a 116 finish for a 12-darter, before Bates hit back to win two legs from three with legs of 15 and 14 darts.

Another devastating burst from the World Champion swept him to victory, though, with finishes of 71, 88 and 81 followed by back-to-back 14-darters as van Barneveld set up a quarter-final with Adrian Lewis.

"He was very good on doubles against Andy Hamilton and last Saturday he defeated me 3-1 in sets in the Bobby Bourn Memorial Trophy event," added van Barneveld.

"He's a great player, I like him a lot and it's going to be a tough game for me."