Robert Thornton has given himself a fantastic opportunity to avoid elimination after he upset the odds on night eight of the Premier League, says Wayne Mardle. The Scot looked set for an early exit from the competition before his two matches, but firstly defeated Michael Smith and then battled to a draw with Michael van Gerwen, in a surprise ending to the schedule at Liverpools Echo Arena. MVG held by Thornton Michael van Gerwen held to a draw by Robert Thornton That closing result meant that Thornton moved out of the bottom two, with Dave Chisnall joining Smith in the elimination places and both strugglers are facing tough matches in next weeks Judgement Night. Sky Sports expert Mardle believes Thornton has breathed fresh life into his campaign and might not even need a result against Lewis in seven days time.Well we said tonight was all about Robert Thornton and it turned out just that way, said Mardle. He has now given himself a fantastic opportunity to not be eliminated. Going into tonight, he has one solitary point. A win and a draw later and the world is a better place. Wayne Mardle on Robert Thornton Both Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall have to win. The thing is, taking a point off Michael van Gerwen. Hes one-to-nine Michael van Gerwen and 12-1 was Robert - and he did a job.Michael Smith has to beat Phil Taylor or Dave Chisnall has to beat Peter Wright and Robert Thornton to lose to be eliminated. If they both lose, Michael Smith and Chisnall, hes through, Robert Thornton will not be eliminated.Going into tonight, he has one solitary point. A win and a draw later and the world is a better place. Michael van Gerwen was held to another draw Van Gerwen let a point slip away again following his frustrating draw with Taylor in night seven.With the battle for the top four hotting up, Mardle believes Van Gerwen could regret these two results.Michael van Gerwen fluffed his lines really for two weeks running now, said Mardle. Hes thrown away some points and maybe made to pay. Also See: Fixtures/Results On Sky TV Prem Table Darts betting Get Sky Sports Yonny Chirinos Rays Jersey . Canada Day is here and with it comes Free Agent Frenzy as the NHLs 30 teams storm out of the gate for signing season. Rays Jerseys China .com) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the struggling Bucks 114-101 on Tuesday. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1836i-mike-zunino-jersey-rays.html . After just two league games in June, Toronto (6-4-1) will go on to play seven in July plus a friendly against Tottenham. Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. Colin Poche Jersey .Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. Tampa Bay Rays Gear .Y. -- Syracuses streak lives on -- barely.NEW YORK -- Baseball clarified the meaning of possession for infielders trying to turn double plays on forceouts, saying on Friday that they must have complete control of the ball but may drop it after intentionally opening their gloves for transfers to their throwing hands. In the first season of expanded instant replay, when infielders have possession while trying to turn double plays has become controversial. Major League Baseball said the interpretation of the Playing Rules Committee was agreed to by MLB, the players association and the umpires union. MLB said that the committee, chaired by New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, determined "a legal catch has occurred ... if the fielder had compleete control over the ball in his glove, but drops the ball after intentionally opening his glove to make the transfer to his throwing hand.dddddddddddd." "There is no requirement that the fielder successfully remove the ball from his glove in order for it be ruled a catch," the committee said. "If the fielder drops the ball while attempting to remove it to make a throw, the umpires should rule that the ball had been caught, provided that the fielder had secured it in his glove before attempting the transfer." The committee also said "the umpires will continue to use their judgment as to whether the fielder had complete control over the ball before the transfer." ' ' '