THE FACTS
When is Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting taking place? Friday 25th July, 2019
Where is Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting taking place? Winter Gardens, Blackpool
What channel is Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting on? Sky Sports Action
Where can I stream Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting? Check https://www.pdc.tv/betfred-world-matchplay-tickets for ticket information
THE STATISTICS
All-time meetings: Rob Cross 2-0 Stephen Bunting
Last meeting: Rob Cross beat Stephen Bunting 6-2
THE PLAYERS
ROB CROSS
STEPHEN BUNTING
THE PREDICTION
Rob Cross and Stephen Bunting have had very contrasting routes to the quarter-finals with Cross cruising through with ease and Bunting having had to survive match darts in his victories against Gerwyn Price and Ian White. The fact that Bunting has played a total of 22 more legs than Cross during the course of the tournament so far sums up the extra struggles the St. Helens man has had to go through.
Although Cross has not really been tested yet, he looks in the mood to step up to the plate and deal well with any challenge put in front of him, and as he often improves as a match progresses, he will relish the longer format in the quarter-finals. Bunting has done well to reach the last eight, and there can be no doubt he has battled well and held his nerve at key moments, but it has to be pointed out that both Price and White were architects of their own downfalls and Cross is unlikely to be as charitable.
Voltage should have far too much leg-on-leg consistency and if he gets an early break he may run away with the game, therefore Cross to cover a handicap of -4.5 is the prediction.