Echo Cup finals day preview: Formby’s spin king hopes for a repeat performance as Widnes hit form at the perfect time

Formby’s Archie Davies celebrates his six wickets against Rainford

He got Formby to the Echo Cup finals day with an incredible spell – now Archie Davies wants to spin his side to some more silverware.

The 18-year-old off-spinner claimed 6/6 from his four overs against Rainford in their quarter-final, having come on in the fifth over at 59/1 defending just 125.

He claims it was nothing spectacular – “I don’t really know how it happened” – but the scorecard begs to differ.

It is the standout performance so far in what has been a breakthrough season for Davies. 

As well as helping Formby win the Love Lane Liverpool Competition T20 title with another win over Rainford, he has also played two games for Lancashire’s 2nd XI.

He said: “It’s my third full season now, and it’s probably been my best one.

“I feel like it’s clicked a bit more. I did some training over the winter with Lancs and I feel like my game’s in a better place.

“It was a good experience playing with Lancashire – I probably would have liked to have done a bit better, but it’s still great to have an opportunity to play with professionals and really good players.”

Echo Cup Finals Day

Monday, August 25 · Moor Park, Northern

10am

Widnes v Formby

1.15pm

Northern v Newton-le-Willows

4.30pm

Final

Standing in Formby’s way will be Cheshire County Cricket League side Widnes, who reached their first Echo Cup finals day with a 23-run win over St Helens Town.

Skipper Alex Hewitt is excited to test his side against more unfamiliar opposition.

“That’s why we enter the Echo Cup,” he said.

“We get to play against sides we don’t normally play and visit grounds we don’t usually go to as senior cricketers.”

Widnes’s league form in the ECB Premier Division has picked up after a poor start – the Cheshire league’s hybrid format means they are already in the swing of playing with a pink ball in coloured clothing.

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Cheshire batter Luke McCoy hit 130 in last weekend’s win over Bowdon, while Rohan Luthra and Aaqip Uppal also have more than 750 runs in all competitions this year.

Hewitt, in his first season as captain, added: “We’ve got a good core of lads around them and we’re a well-rounded and balanced side.

“We struggled in the first half of the season and only got one win but since then we’ve picked up another three or four and got ourselves out of the relegation zone, so I feel like we’ve hit form at the right time.

“It’s a bit late, but better late than never!”

Limited overs cricket has been Formby’s strongest suit this year too – they sit fourth in the league after last weekend’s win at relegation-threatened Birkenhead Park. 

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Davies added: “In the cups we’ve been really strong – we’re really well set up for them, especially T20s.

“We’ve got such a destructive team.”

The key wicket will of course be that of Formby skipper Ian Cockbain, whose tally in all competitions stands at 1,976 ahead of Saturday’s league game against Northern.

Davies has marvelled at his captain all season, saying: “He’s just so good. I don’t know how he does it.

“But he’s a good captain and good teammate to work with.

“I can just pick his brains about anything, he’s played so much cricket. It’s great to have him around.”

from Merseyside Cricket Online https://ift.tt/pH7RU5m