Stephen Bunting averts Ryan Joyce examination as Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton send World Matchplay statements on Night Two

Luke Littler put on a darting masterclass and at one point looked on course to break the record for the highest World Matchplay average as he obliterated Ryan Searle 10-2 on Night Two of the World Matchplay. While Jonny Clayton, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting sealed mixed levels of victories.

Littler said afterwards to Sky Sports that it was very much win by any means necessary. A monkey off the back so to speak as he lost last year in the stand out opening tie against Michael van Gerwen.

Going into any tournament now, he has almost ascended into that Michael van Gerwen mode of being the favourite no matter what form he's in. Apart from the World Series, there hasn't been much to go off with Littler taking time off instead of playing European Tours in particular or ProTours.

But sometimes that can lead to lethargic darts or in this case sublime statements and it was definitely the latter. He hit a 108.92 average, five 180's, a highest checkout of 126 and 52.6% on the doubles. He was at one point averaging around 113 concurrently.

An 84 checkout was an emphatic opening act for Littler. A 126 checkout saw him go 2-0 up. Searle missed 153 for an opening gambit and Littler returned for double eight to make it 3-0. A 47 checkout saw Littler lead 4-0.

Searle missed doubles for a 4-1 but he returned only to miss more darts. Littler hit a 104 checkout to go 6-0 up but Searle finally stopped the whitewash.

But Littler was still romping towards victory including a 102 and an 11-darter thrown into the mix. Searle broke for 8-2. Littler missed bull for an 85 checkout to go 9-2 up but returned only to miss two more darts. Searle miscounted and Littler hit double eight double eight for 9-2.

Littler hit 90 from 130 to leave three darts at double 20. He pinned it first time for a 10-2 win.

People's Champion Bunting makes fans sweat

A player who continues to produce and excel on the big stage is Stephen Bunting but he was made to massively work for it to end Night Two against Ryan Joyce.

Probably the toughest test of any of the ProTour qualifiers due to his rock solid, unfazed nature and doubling prowess, it was on full display tonight. But it was 10-8 to 'The Bullet'.

Bunting hit a 180 to leave 81 and he hit double eight for a 3-1 lead. A 116 checkout saw Joyce go 3-2 down. Joyce bust his score and Bunting picked his pocket to hold for 4-2.

Joyce broke for 4-4 hitting double 20 but Bunting hit straight back for 5-4 with a 64 checkout on double 16. He went 6-4 up though at the next interval.

He pinned double 18 for a 10-darter to send a statement. Bunting missed darts eight and nine for a nine-dart finish and Joyce picked his pocket for 8-5.

Joyce missed 67 for 8-6 but returned to break. He continued to put the pressure on and Bunting handed him chance after chance to make it 8-8 and he gratefully took it.

Bunting couldn't get a shot at 121 and Joyce took aim at 89. He missed double five as Bunting returned for 9-8. An excellent leg though hoisted it in Bunting's direction as he moves through.

Clinical Clayton sends statement

Jonny Clayton was perhaps the second most impressive on Night Two. 'The Ferret' was facing Martin Schindler who came out the tones of Without Me by Eminem instead of his usual Pink Floyd number in the UK or Ich Will by Rammstein when he's back at home.

But while the humour was there, it certainly wasn't in the early stages in particular for Schindler who hit a brick wall called Jonny Clayton. He started as he meant to go on with two finger points to the camera in one leg. He hit two maximums and then sealed the leg.

Clayton hit yet another maximum leaving 98 missing double 12 for a 2-0 lead. Schindler went double double on 136 but to no avail and Clayton hit double 12 for 2-0.

Clayton was averaging around 125 as Schindler wasn't even getting a shot. He missed his trademark 121. Schindler took aim at 106 but couldn't get a dart. Clayton pinned double eight for 3-0.