Lewis (left) has never beaten Taylor in a televised game

Phil Taylor moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a victory against Adrian Lewis.

The match was evenly poised at 3-3 when Lewis missed five darts at a double to take the lead and Taylor took advantage in typical fashion.

The world champion then claimed three more legs without reply to win 8-4.

"I thought Adrian played quite well, but he missed a couple of doubles and after the seventh leg I knew he was under pressure," said Taylor.

Lewis said: "We both started the game at bit patchy, I was expecting him to kick straight in and it kind of put me off.

"After the break I came out with a 180 and 140 and then missed five darts at a double, which you can't do.

"I had him under pressure and I let him get away from me, and it's annoyed me."

Lewis has dropped from fourth to sixth in the table, while Ronnie Baxter is now level on points with second-placed Mervyn King.

Baxter produced the performance of the night to beat Raymond van Barneveld 8-4, while King lost 8-6 to World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock.

Defending champion James Wade won for the second week in a row, defeating Terry Jenkins 8-5.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version