Brendan Dolan hit four doubles from seven attempts and had a three-dart average above 95 in his win over Jose Marques ©Getty Images

Northern Ireland progressed to the quarter-finals of the Professional Darts Corporation World Cup of Darts for the first time in five years in Jena in Germany - but the host nation and reigning champions Wales did not find things so straightforward.

Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney eased past Portugal's Jose Marques and Jose de Sousa without dropping a leg.

World champion Gerwyn Price beat Darius Labanauskas 4-2 to get Wales on their way, but Mindaugas Barauskas enjoyed a 4-2 win versus Jonny Clayton to forced a third match.

And that went all the way to a seventh, sudden-death leg thanks partly to a clutch 116 checkout from Labanauskas.

But the Welsh hung on to advance.

Australia reached the quarter-finals for the eighth time in 11 World Cups by overcoming a spirited challenge from the United States, and will play Wales next.

Simon Whitlock raced into a 3-0 lead against Danny Lauby but the American pulled it level before "The Wizard" put a firm stop to the comeback charge.

Chuck Puleo then won the opening leg against Damon Heta, who hit back to lead 3-1 before recovering from missing three match darts in leg five to close out a 4-2 success and secure the tie.

England's dispatched South Africa 2-0 as they march towards a potential fifth title.

James Wade had a nervy start as Carl Gabriel won the opening leg, but managed to regain his composure to seal a 4-1 win.

Dave Chisnall then sealed his country's place in the next round with a 4-2 defeat of Devon Peterson.

Austria denied Belgium a spot in a tenth successive quarter-final as Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez overcame Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh in superb fashion.

Scotland avoided an upset against Poland as Peter Wright and John Henderson punished missed doubles from Krzysztof Kciuk and Krzysztof Ratajski in a 2-0 victory.

Germany's Gabriel Clemens and Max Hopp survived a huge scare from Japan's Jun Matsuda and Yoshihisa Baba before coming through a doubles decider 4-2 to seal a quarter-final place.

And The Netherlands complete the last eight, with Michael van Gerwen and Dirk van Duijvenbode each winning their singles ties.

The Ductch will play Scotland in the quarter-finals, with the winner of that match advancing to face Wales or Ausralia.

England will meet Germany and Austria player Northern Ireland in the other last-eight clash.