"Well, from my perspective, I've got big cojones" - Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney react to scintillating 144 outshot to defeat Latvia in last-leg decider

Reigning World Cup of Darts champions Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney survived a huge scare against Latvia in the last-16, booking their spot in the quarter-finals following an insane 144 checkout from 'Rocky' to seal a 8-7 win, keeping the title defence alive.

It was the Latvian pairing of Madars Razma and Valters Melderis who got out of the blocks quicker, taking out 70 to break the throw enroute to a 4-1 lead. A five-leg spurt from the Northern Ireland pair saw them sail into a 6-4 lead. They were then stranded on 80 for the match when Latvia cleaned up 16 and forced a deciding leg.

Double 12 was left for Razma as he looked set to return with Northern Ireland on 144. Here is when Rock stepped up. He planted two darts into the treble 20 segment before cooly launching the third one into the double 12 bed, sending him and Gurney into a frenzy. Heartbreak for the Latvians, but a clutch moment by Rock who keeps their World Cup title chances afloat for the time being.

Rock was very much relieved after that result. "Well, from my perspective, I've got big cojones, put it that way," he said afterwards. "When they were sitting on 24 or 44, I can't remember exactly what it was, and I was left on 144 by my good partner, I had to take it out. And I've done it. I'm relieved."

Gurney was also in disbelief. "As I said to Josh out there in the interview, if I went for the 19s, he would have had to switch," he recalled. "So I went for the 17s purposely because I knew that even if he hit the first treble, he could stay there. Then it's natural: treble, treble and have a go.

"But it takes world-class ability to do what he just did. There are only a few people on the planet who can do exactly what he did. He absolutely smashed it in. It wasn't like he snatched at any of those darts. They all went exactly where they needed to go. If he'd snatched at them and still hit them, I'd have thought we'd been a bit lucky. But he threw those darts with authority and they went precisely where they had to."

With Latvia on 24, it was a now or never situation with Rock knowing that the checkout had to go. "Well, I had to," he stated. It was either going to go in or it wasn't. He's thinking, "They're on 144 and we're sitting on 24 or 44, whatever it was," so obviously he thinks he's got a chance. But at the same time, we're professionals. You know what you can do, and I know what I can do. I was there to take the checkout, so yeah, I'm happy enough."

Adding to that, 161 and 133 checkouts highlighted an incredible show of finishing by the pair. It was the level of finishing that saw them lift the title last year and could have the same results this year if they are able to keep it up.

Gurney admitted that they were crucial with Latvia playing a great game. "That's credit to Latvia because they played amazingly. They were brilliant. Both of them. The lad doesn't have a turkey heart — he was absolutely amazing. Every time I came back behind him, he was hitting two trebles, and he was brilliant on the doubles as well."

Rock was in awe of the finishing on stage, especially from their opponents. "I don't think he missed a double." In fact, Latvia missed just two doubles all contest in a hugely impressive display. Northern Ireland concluded with a 53% checkout rate. While their scoring was batter, the Latvian pair continued to pin the doubles.

The praise kept coming. "Whenever he had a shot at a double, I don't think he missed one," Gurney said. "Honestly, I don't know what the individual averages were, but I'd say he was probably the best player out of all four of us. He was that good. Under the pressure he was under, taking out finishes like 80 and 74, he was exceptional."

In the end, that was all for nothing as they did not win. "But that's why I've got a Premier League player beside me," Gurney continued. "That's why we've got a Premier League player, and that's why we're going to have a multiple major champion.

"A normal player can't take out a 144 the way he did at 7-7 when they were sitting on a double. A normal player can't do that. I can't do that because I'm not as good as him. But this man will win multiple championships. Don't ask me whether it's the World Championship, the UK Open, the World Matchplay or whatever. His day will come and he will surpass anything I've ever done."

Up next is the Netherlands duo of Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen. It is set to be an enthralling contest with the winner set to play either England or Scotland for the chance of World Cup glory in Frankfurt.