World Cup of Darts Saturday afternoon Round-Up | Anderson and Menzies' Scotland send out statement as Wales continue winning ways

Gary Anderson's Scotland began their bid as he teamed with Cameron Menzies today for the first time in Saturday's afternoon session as they defeated Norway at the World Cup of Darts.

It was a statement win for the new combo with Menzies up to the task with Anderson on the big stage. They won emphatically 8-0 with just a third whitewash win at the knockout stage of the World Cup of Darts since 2023 seeing off Norway with a 99 average, 66.7% on the outer ring and a highest checkout of 118.

Averaging 101 for most of the contest which is a fate unto itself in this format, Menzies set up 32 for Anderson with 'Cammy' wanting to do well for Anderson and calming down compared to his usual on stage antics and it worked for him as Anderson returned to pin double 16. This was for 4-0 and at this point they had not missed a dart at a double.

They broke for 5-0 with an exquisite 110 checkout as they did not allow Norway's duo of Dekker and Sivertsen who had got through the group back at all to reduce the arrears. This happened again as they left 95 but 177 left it handy for Anderson and Menzies as double six was taken out for a 5-0 lead. They added more again for 7-0 with a 64 checkout to break before surging over the line. They missed 124 but returned for 25 to reach the Quarter-Finals.

They were joined this afternoon by William O'Connor and Mickey Mansell with both making their thoughts clear on the format and the protection for the big names including Scotland. They said that it should in theory be like the main World Cup and that protection should dissipate and it should be straight knockout.

They surged through sweeping Polish duo Ratajski and Bialecki, who many thought could be dark horses if any of the big names, e.g Littler/Humphries, Anderson/Menzies or Van Veen/Van Gerwen, head home. But it was Ireland with two experienced campaigners, both at this level, World Cup-wise and in general, who won through continuing to impress.

Albeit it was a lot clearer for Ireland at points than others. O'Connor anchored from the front for the pairing as he surged 3-1 ahead with an 86 checkout to break the throw before then hitting another combo finish of 62 to lead 5-2 at the break and head towards the finish. But Poland wasn't done. Ratajski, who is the leader with Bialecki having his Development Tour excellence too, recently showed why as he took out 112 left by Bialecki to make it 5-5 suddenly.

But Ireland weathered the mid-match storm. O'Connor left 87 for Mansell. Ratajski came back to miss 105 and majestic Mansell hit double nine to seal it. A Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland tie could be in the offing if the latter win tonight.

Wales pairing Jonny Clayton and Nick Kenny, unlike Scotland, don't have the route of being seeds, so they had to come through the group and faced the tough pairing of Stowe Buntz and Adam Sevada for the USA, with the duo dumping out Australia and Canada from their group.

But Wales who are without talisman Gerwyn Price now have Clayton as their leader and he did the lifting. Wales led 4-2 early on with Kenny leaving 141 for Clayton who does as he often does and pinned a beautiful ton plus checkout.

A 5-2 lead followed as they held on double 10. USA unable take out 112. They also hit a 180 to leave 60 on their own throw but a 6-2 lead followed for Wales albeit they were pegged back as USA broke back on double five after Wales missed 97 for a 7-2 lead. They then made it 6-5 breaking again and really breathing down their necks.

But Clayton again was at it with a brilliant 141 for 7-5 before they sealed the deal on 33 with USA unable to muster 154.

Latvia also sealed its progression in dramatic style. It wasn't exactly the best advert for the World Cup, but Razma and Melderis will care not one bit.

They won 8-7 against the French pairing of Thullier and Tricole with Razma leading from the front. Thullier couldn't hit 125, and Razma readjusted on 36 to hit doubles on opposite sides of the board. It was close throughout with Latvia leading 4-2 but France halved the deficit thanks to Tricole. But back-to-back 110 checkouts for Latvia saw them lead the contest 6-5. Despite that though they couldn't pull away and needed that 8-7 decider to claim it, but they move into tomorrow's action.