"Rob, Roooooooooooob?! No, he can't hear me" - Wayne Mardle becomes distraught over Rob Cross' repeated fumbling on double 16 in World Matchplay quarter-finals

Rob Cross' hopes of taking the title at this year's World Matchplay came crashing down on Friday night as the 2019 winner in the Winter Gardens went down 16-7 against Michael Smith in the quarterfinals.

Cross had impressed in the previous round against Ryan Searle, but against Smith he had big problems on his doubles. Especially on double sixteen where miss after miss piled up, much to his visible frustration.

When he had again missed several darts on double 16 whilst at an 8-3 deficit, Sky Sports commentator and former World Matchplay finalist in his own right, Wayne Mardle said he guaranteed Cross would not go for double 16 on another finish. What happened, however? In the vey next leg, Cross found himself needing a 52 checkout. "He'll go 16, double 18," Mardle said confidently on comms.

What did Cross do, however, he stubbornly went for the big twenty first dart, leaving himself on double sixteen. To make matters worse, 'Voltage' missed again. "What is he doing?" Mardle asked aloud, with co commentator Rod Studd chiming in; "He should've listened to Wayne Mardle!"

After Smith missed his own darts at double, Cross returned to persevere in his attempts at going for double sixteen but was left shaking his head after missing yet again, much to the absolute despair of Mardle on commentary. "Rob, Rob Roooooooooooob!" 'Hawaii 501' bellowed. "No, he can't hear me."

Cross eventually lost the match 16-7, some way below his best with an overall average of 94.19, some 13 points less than in his previous match.