Premier League Darts Betting: Stats don't add up for Lewis

Darts / Jaymes Monte / 28 March 2012 /

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Stats and form suggest Barney should be clear favourite.

"Barney has been the best, and most consistent player in the tournament so far, bar, of course, Phil Taylor.

We're past the halfway point in the Premier League group stages and seven of the eight players are still battling it out for three semi-final spots...

Before we look at this week's action let me express my condolences to Gary Anderson, who lost his father to stomach cancer last week and will not play in Cardiff this week, and the family of darts-legend Jocky Wilson who passed away on Saturday night. There will be a minute's applause for the latter prior to this week's action.

As a result of Anderson's absence Adrian Lewis will play two matches in Cardiff this Thursday. The first, against Andy Hamilton, I expect him to win comfortably, the second, against Raymond van Barneveld, will prove to be a much sterner test.

It is difficult to ascertain how much of an effect playing two matches in the same night will have on Lewis. With a couple of matches and a couple of hours in between games there shouldn't be any questions of fatigue. Yes, darts players can suffer from fatigue. But if the crowd get on his back in the first match, then again against the Dutchman, it may affect Lewis; although conversely, a big win in his opener could spur him on for the second match.

Regardless, Barney should be a much shorter price than the [2.5] he currently trades at. For my money the Dutchman has been the best, and most consistent player in the tournament so far, bar, of course, Phil Taylor.

Van Barneveld has a tournament average of over 100, occupies second place in the table and was in brilliant form last week against Gary Anderson. Jackpot, on the other hand, is averaging 95.28 for the tournament, is second bottom of the table and was rather handed victory by Painter seven days ago.

There's also the head-to-head record to consider. Barney controls that statistic comfortably with a 17-8 advantage, while the Dutchman has won six and drawn one of their nine competitive Premier League meetings.

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