Sherrock & Van Gerwen smash records on historic night

Fallon Sherrock

Fallon Sherrock and Michael van Gerwen produced record-breaking averages on a historic second day of the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

Sherrock averaged 101.55, the highest ever hit by a female player in a TV event, in her 5-0 demolition of Mike De Decker, while Van Gerwen set a new Grand Slam record average of 115.19 in his 5-2 defeat of Joe Cullen.

The pair were among 16 winners on Day Two, as the second day of group stage matches took place across two action-packed sessions.

Grand Slam debutant Sherrock lit up the Aldersley Leisure Village from the off in her contest with De Decker, hitting seven perfect darts in the opening leg.

That set the tone for a roof-raising display from the history-maker, who landed four 180s and hit five of her nine double attempts to surpass the 100.34 record set by Lisa Ashton at the UK Open in March.

The result sees the 27-year-old get off the mark in Group F as she looks to make it through to the knock-out stage in her Grand Slam debut.
 
“I am absolutely buzzing with that,” said an ecstatic Sherrock. “To break the record average is insane. I’m proud of myself tonight.
 
“At the time I wasn’t thinking about the average, I was just so focused on getting the win.
 
“I felt more relaxed going into today’s game but I never expected to win 5-0.”

To qualify, Sherrock must now defeat Gabriel Clemens 5-3 or better in their final group game after German number one Clemens recorded a 5-4 win over Peter Wright to throw the group wide open.

Meanwhile, Van Gerwen once again illustrated a return to his best form as he broke the 114.85 record set by Dimitri van den Bergh in last year's event.

The three-time Grand Slam champion landed four 180s and five visits of 140 or more in a breath-taking display, and needs to win just one leg in his final group game with John Henderson to book his place in the last 16.

Henderson denied Lisa Ashton a first Grand Slam victory, as the World Cup winner ran out a 5-2 winner to stay in contention in Group G.

Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Ryan Joyce became the first three players to book places in the knock-out phase.

Price secured his passage from Group A with a 5-0 rout of Krzysztof Ratajski, strengthening his hopes of lifting the Eric Bristow Trophy for a third time.

The world number produced a typically high-octane display to continue his magnificent record on the Aldersley stage.

“I am the best player in the world, and I need to believe it a bit more,” Price reflected.
 
“When I'm ruthless on my doubles and my scoring game is there, I don't think anybody can beat me.”

Elsewhere in Group A, Northern Irish youngster Nathan Rafferty shone in a 5-2 win over Martin Schindler.

Smith ensured his progression from Group H with an impressive 5-2 defeat of his former mentor Gary Anderson.

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up Anderson will now face a straight shoot-out with 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Returning Dutchman van Barneveld enjoyed a first win on a TV stage in almost two years as he whitewashed Joe Davis 5-0.

In Group D, Joyce secured qualification in style as he averaged 108.11 in a 5-1 defeat of Rowby-John Rodriguez.

Austria's World Cup runner-up Rodriguez will now face a sudden-death meeting with Stephen Bunting, who kept alive his hopes of going through with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over Chris Dobey.

In Group F, reigning champion Jose de Sousa came through a last-leg decider with Mensur Suljovic to make it back-to-back wins, and Luke Humphries bounced back with a 5-3 win over Matt Campbell.

Group B action saw Jonny Clayton continue his fine form with a 5-3 win over the impressive Bradley Brooks, while Mervyn King stays in contention thanks to a 5-4 win over Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.

Rob Cross fought off a Jim Williams fight back to win 5-3 to take a big step towards qualification from Group C, as James Wade saw off Boris Krcmar 5-2.

With all players having played two group matches, the final games in the round-robin stage take place across Monday and Tuesday.

The £550,000 tournament continues on Monday, where the fate of players in Groups A-D will be decided. 

Tickets for the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

The tournament is broadcast live on Sky Sports, as well as through the PDC's international broadcast partners including DAZN and RTL7, and through PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers.

Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts
Schedule of Play

Sunday November 14
Afternoon Session

8x Group Matches
Nathan Rafferty 5-2 Martin Schindler (A) 
Mervyn King 5-4 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (B)
James Wade 5-2 Boris Krcmar (C) 
Stephen Bunting 5-3 Chris Dobey (D)
Ryan Joyce 5-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez (D)
Rob Cross 5-3 Jim Williams (C)
Gerwyn Price 5-0 Krzysztof Ratajski (A)
Jonny Clayton 5-3 Bradley Brooks (B)

Evening Session
8x Group Matches
Luke Humphries 5-3 Matt Campbell (F)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 Joe Davis (H)
John Henderson 5-2 Lisa Ashton (G) 
Fallon Sherrock 5-0 Mike De Decker (E)
Jose de Sousa 5-4 Mensur Suljovic (F)
Michael Smith 5-2 Gary Anderson (H)
Gabriel Clemens 5-4 Peter Wright (E)
Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Joe Cullen (G)

Monday November 15
8x Group Matches
Chris Dobey v Ryan Joyce (D)
Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler (A)
Boris Krcmar v Jim Williams (C)
James Wade v Rob Cross (C)
Bradley Brooks v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (B)
Jonny Clayton v Mervyn King (B)
Krzysztof Ratajski v Nathan Rafferty (A)
Stephen Bunting v Rowby-John Rodriguez (D)

Tuesday November 16 (1900 GMT)
8x Group Matches
Michael Smith v Joe Davis (H)
Joe Cullen v Lisa Ashton (G) 
Michael van Gerwen v John Henderson (G) 
Mensur Suljovic v Matt Campbell (F)
Jose de Sousa v Luke Humphries (F) 
Peter Wright v Mike De Decker (E)   
Gabriel Clemens v Fallon Sherrock (E) 
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld (H)

Groups A-D tables

Groups E-H tables