STRENSALL’S Chris Quantock gave world number 11 Michael Smith a couple of frights before bowing out of the Austrian Darts Open.

Quantock went down 6-2 to the 2016 World Championship quarter-finalist at the PDC event in Vienna, but rallied well after losing the first two legs heavily.

The former Huntington School pupil then made it 2-1 against the throw, taking out a nervy 40 (one, seven, double 16) after his opponent had missed six darts to close out the leg.

Quantock went on to squander a crucial dart at double 20 to fall 4-1 behind, but responded well to record the highest checkout of the game with an 86 (treble 18, 16, double eight).

He then followed that effort up with two maximums in the next leg but, as he waited on 60 to reduce the deficit to 4-3, Smith managed to hit double 16 and checkout on 70 with the last dart in his hand.

Smith secured his passage through to the last 16 with a 15-dart leg and his high-scoring, ultimately accounted for Quantock with five 180s included in his 19 ton-plus throws and resulting in an average of 94.95.

In comparison, Quantock, who is now ranked 85th in the world and beat Paul Rowley 6-4 in the first round, averaged 76.79 and hit two maximums in his nine ton-plus visits to the oche.

He was also only afforded six darts at a finish, while Smith had 20.

Smith went on to reach the final, where he was beaten 6-5 by legendary world number one Michael van Gerwen.