Searle and Cross cruise through Masters openers against King and Dolan

Ryan Searle and Rob Cross will return for Day Two of the 2022 Masters in Milton Keynes as the opening session of action continues.

Searle breezed past Mervyn King who was out of sorts with some quality finishing towards the end including a 152 checkout to complete the feat as he will now face World Number One, Gerwyn Price.

Searle missed the second double 20 for a 140 checkout but returned for an opening hold of throw. He followed that up with a break of throw on double 20. King missed a chance at 106 and another leg, another double 20 shot as Searle went 3-0 up.

King left 36 on his throw and when Searle missed two at 78 for a 4-0 lead, he returned for a 3-1 deficit despite only averaging 78.

Searle missed one at 104 but returned with King unable take out 140 which he gave a snarl. ‘Heavy Metal’ returned for double 10 as he went 4-1 up.

Searle produced a 118 checkout to go one away with a break of throw at 5-1 up. A 152 checkout saw him claim it.

While for Cross, it was also emphatic as he saw off Brendan Dolan 6-2 as he looks to continue off from his 2021 return to form and subsequent brilliance.

Dolan missed three darts at double 18 to hold and start the tie and Cross replied with a 105 checkout to go a break up and lead. He followed that up with a hold on double eight in an 18-darter.

Dolan’s woes looked to continue but he left it handy from a 160 only to miss two darts after Cross had initially spurned three and Cross hit double 10 to make it 3-0 for another break.

Dolan broke back immediately though and hit double eight to make it 3-2 as he put the pressure on ‘Voltage’. Cross hit a 180 and double five to get himself back on track at 4-2 up. 

It was a second maximum for Cross but he whittled himself down to five which saw Dolan missed double 10 for a 72 checkout. But finally ’Voltage’ pinned double one to make it 5-2.

A 134 leave left 92 but he missed two for the match only for Dolan to not hit the 138 and Cross was back for a 6-2 win on double four.