Taylor set to extend unbeaten streak

Betway Premier League: week six
Sky Sports 3, 7pm

Lewis v Taylor
Head-to-head: Taylor leads 52-16
Phil Taylor seems to be turning back the clock in the Betway Premier League and can extend his unbeaten streak by beating Adrian Lewis in the opener at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

The Power is top of the table after five mixed performances, though he looked back to somewhere near his best last Thursday night in a 6-6 draw against Gary Anderson, a match in which he hit 16 140s or better, the most on the night.

Apparently playing under no pressure as retirement looms, he’s well rested after missing the Coral UK Open where Jackpot suffered a last-32 exit at the hands of BDO qualifier Paul Hogan.

Taylor hammered Lewis twice in the Premier League last year and there is still absolutely no knowing which Jackpot will show up. He threw well against Peter Wright last week, averaging 109 – and lost 7-2.

Recommendation
P Taylor
1pt Evs Betway, Hills, Ladbrokes

Wade v Wright
Wade leads 14-13
Peter Wright had been hinting for a while that a major title was imminent and, profiting from the absence of Michael van Gerwen in Minehead, Snakebite took his chance at the UK Open.

The Scot has been playing sizzlingly well for weeks and, buoyed by Sunday’s triumph, would expect to extend his winning streak against James Wade to eight matches.

However, there’s the small matter of coming down from that success, and we all know that James Wade can give anyone a battle.

The left-hander lost 7-5 to Dave Chisnall last week despite boasting more ton-plus scores. For once his famed doubling let him down and that won’t happen too often. Before that he was unbeaten.

Throwing first, Wade can catch Wright cold in Glasgow, so back him at 5-4 to be in front after three legs. Three straight holds and the bet cops.

Recommendation
J Wade race to three legs
1pt 5-4 Coral, Sky Bet

Huybrechts v Van Gerwen
Van Gerwen leads 19-8
We ought to presume that if Michael van Gerwen’s back is okay, he’ll extend his winning streak over Kim Huybrechts to ten matches.

The world number one sat out week four and missed the UK Open but declared on Tuesday that he would be fine for Glasgow.

Huybrechts, yet to win but only beaten twice in five starts, has consistently averaged in the mid to high 90s and frequently hit 180s. He followed up in Minehead where he reached the quarter-finals and then hit ten maximums in a 10-9 defeat against Alan Norris.

Throwing first and throwing well, back him to hit the first 180 at 6-5.

Recommendation
K Huybrechts first 180
1pt 6-5 Betfred, Betway, Coral

Dutch arrersmith Jelle KlaasenCredit: Jordan Mansfield

Klaasen v Van Barneveld
Van Barneveld leads 9-6
Jelle Klaasen has won his last three showdowns with Raymond van Barneveld and is a big price to make it four.

The Cobra blew a 6-3 lead against Kim Huybrechts last week but having played extremely well in his first four matches in which he had averaged over 97.

Klaasen and Barney – who was hammered 7-2 by Dave Chisnall last week – are missing too many doubles. Klaasen missed 14 of 20 last week, Van Barneveld 12 of 14.

The fact that Klaasen had 20 shots at doubles demonstrates his scoring is okay and his chance has to be better than the odds suggest.

Recommendation
J Klaasen
1pt 11-4 Ladbrokes

Chisnall v Anderson
Anderson leads 13-4
Dave Chisnall’s four-point haul last Thursday made fools of those of us who suspected he was struggling.

Well, that’s not quite true. The fact is he was struggling but Chizzy, being Chizzy, managed to turn on the style in Exeter. It doesn’t mean, however, that he can repeat the feat in Glasgow, where Gary Anderson will have the crowd very much on his side.

The pace of the game will suit both men and the 180s are going to be piling up. They’re in for 7.5. Since Anderson’s finishing is no longer an issue that should mean plenty of quick legs, but even if Chisnall loses he ought to have no difficulty averaging over 98.

Recommendation
D Chisnall average over 98
2pts 5-6 Betway