New Zealand are through to the second round of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Cup of Darts, after dispatching Lithuania 5-1 in Hamburg, Germany on Friday (NZT).
The Kiwi pairing of Cody Harris and Haupai Puha were too strong for the Lithuanian team of Darius Labanauskas and Mindaugas Barauskas, who were making their World Cup debuts.
Competing in his fourth World Cup, Harris anchored the New Zealand team to perfection, as they averaged 87.15, while the 33-year-old hit two-ton-plus finishes of 110 and 124 to win the match.
New Zealand looked on course for a whitewash win, but Labanauskas hit a 100 checkout, with Harris sitting on 72 to win the match.
But 'Code Star' came back in the sixth leg to take out 124 on double eight to claim the victory.
"We're so happy to win," said Harris. "I'm glad we got through and it was a great night for us."
The result means New Zealand are through to the round of 16 for just the third time in the ninth edition of the PDC event, after previously achieving that feat in 2010, and 2015.
New Zealand will now take their sporting rivalry with South Africa to the oche, when the two teams meet in the second round on Sunday.
The South African team of Devon Petersen and Vernon Bouwers scored an impressive come-from-behind 5-4 win over sixth-seeds Northern Ireland.
The second-round format involves two best-of-seven singles matches and if the scores are tied, a best-of-seven doubles match will settle the match.
"We can't wait to play South Africa now," Harris added. "All the teams are really good and on the day, it's anyone's game."
Reaching the second round means the Kiwi team are guaranteed prizemoney of £8000 (NZ$15,324).
Victory over South Africa would see New Zealand into the quarter-finals, facing either Japan or Singapore, who beat New Zealand in the first round last year.
Newshub.
