Worldwide Matchplay: Joe Cullen and Nathan Aspinall reach the semifinal showdown -Dlight News

Joe Cullen and Nathan Aspinall organize the semifinal showdown I We’re back for more World Matchplay on Friday at the iconic Winter Gardens as the world’s top stars battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy, live on Sky Sports Action from 8pm

Joe Cullen reached the World Matchplay semi-finals for the first time after a dominating 16-11 victory over Daryl Gurney, while Nathan Aspinall edged out teammate Chris Dobey by the same score.

Cullen scored eight 180s and 142s averaging 97.11 to keep Gurney at arm’s length as ‘The Rockstar’ broke new ground to reach the last four, while Aspinall stumbled at the finish line against Dobey, wrapping up a 16-12 victory averaging 99.3 and 10180.

Cullen, the former Masters champion and Premier League runner-up, put on an inspired finishing display to eliminate tournament favorite Gerwyn Price in a dramatic playoff last time out and picked up where he left off by taking a 5-0 lead against two-time semi-finalist Gurney.

The Northern Irishman finished on 77 to clinch his first leg of the match after the first interval before producing a payout of 132 on the bull to make it 8-5.

Cullen responded in style with a call of 142 before Gurney nailed the top to stay in outside contention at 9-6.

Gurney, who is the most decorated player left in the top half of the draw, having lifted televised titles at the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals in 2017 and 2018 respectively, made it three matches out of four to close the gap to 10-8.

‘The Rockstar’ restored his four leg lead at 12-8 and the Yorkshire man remained cool, calm and collected to sink consecutive leg 13 darts for a 14-10 lead in the race to 16.

The 34-year-old landed double 4 to be on the verge of victory and marched into his first World Matchplay semi-final sinking tops.

Aspinall continued his challenge against his teammate Dobey, who knocked out world number one Michael Smith in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

There were three consecutive shooting breaks before the first interval, but it was ‘Hollywood’ Dobey who held the lead early 3-2.

Aspinall, contesting his third consecutive World Matchplay quarter-final, averaged 117.5 in the session with a scoring average of 134, but still finished a leg behind.

Dobie came out after the break and hit a spectacular 140 before nailing sensational tops, tops to stretch his lead to 6-3, but Aspinall came back from 7-5 down with three legs in the spin to regain the lead for the first time since the opening leg.

The former UK Open champion soon opened a two-legged cushion with an excellent finish of 92, capping off successive double 18s and striking seven of eight legs for a 12-8 double eight lead after wiring the bull for a payout of 167.

Reigning Masters champion Dobey was being put to the sword but threatened one of the great comebacks with a finish of 84 for an 11 dart to fall 15-12 down.

Aspinall finally teetered over the finish line after covering double 8 in front of Stockport legend Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton before hugging Dobey.

Ryan Searle and Jonny Clayton kick off the last eight action on Friday, before Damon Heta and tournament favorite Luke Humphries battle it out for a spot in Saturday’s semi-finals.

We’re back for more World Matchplay action at the iconic Winter Gardens on Friday at 8pm as the world’s top stars battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy, live on Sky Sports Action.