ADRIAN LEWIS and Raymond van Barneveld shared ton-plus checkouts in the final two legs of an enthralling McCoy's Premier League Darts contest as they drew seven-all at the AECC in Aberdeen.
The duo had opened their Premier League campaigns with draws at the Manchester Arena a week ago, and were again forced to settle for a point following another high-quality contest.
Lewis hit back from 2-0 down to lead 5-2 before van Barneveld won four of the next five to level, but the World Champion hit a 140 checkout to move 7-6 up before his Dutch rival posted 126 on the bull for a point.
"It was a great match and I thought I dominated the game," said Lewis. "I had a couple of sloppy legs but I showed a lot of character after he'd got back level and took out a good 140 to go 7-6 up.
"I left 51 after nine darts in the last leg and his 126 finish was fantastic. The old Raymond is coming back and it's great to see."
Van Barneveld opened the game in style by hitting three 140s and double 16 to take the first leg in 13 darts, before landing a 180 and double eight to take the second, after Lewis was off-target on double 15 for a 150 checkout.
Lewis hit a 180 and finished 100 with two double tops to spark his challenge in the third, and landed another maximum in a 12-dart leg to level.
He then finished double nine in two successive legs - the latter being an 11-darter which began with back-to-back 180s - and finished 64 on tops to win a fifth straight leg in moving 5-2 up.
Van Barneveld took the next three legs in 15 darts, taking out 76, 77 and double eight and also landed a maximum in the 11th leg, only for Lewis to take out 70 on tops to lead 6-5.
The Dutch star hit his fourth 180 of the game in a 14-darter as he levelled, only for Lewis to brilliantly check out 140 in the next to ensure at least a point at 7-6.
He then opened the final leg with scores of 140, 180 and 130 to leave 51 after nine darts - but van Barneveld had left himself 126 and finished the checkout on the bullseye to grab a draw.
"At 2-0 up I thought it was going to be my night, but he came back really well to go 5-2 up," said van Barneveld. "I got it back to five-all but the 126 was fantastic because Adrian had a brilliant leg to leave 51 after nine darts.
"In the last two weeks I've come back to get a point and I'm happy with that."
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