Theakston Player of the Round: Jimmy Davies (Rainford)

Davies took 2 for 32 and scored a run-a-ball 55 to help Rainford defeat 2021 runners-up Alvanley

^{Photo: John Williams}

Allrounders have had their fair share of the headlines over the past few days with Ben Stokes' ODI retirement and debates about his successor occupying cricket journalists up and down the country.

And fittingly an allrounder was the star of the show in the Voneus Village Cup quarter-finals, with Rainford's Jimmy Davies collecting Theakston Player of the Round honours.

Facing 2021 runners-up Alvanley, Davies controlled the middle overs with the ball and picked up the wickets of Chris Charles and James Ecclestone on his way to figures of 2 for 32. Only Andrew Davies (0 for 30) was more economical as the Cheshire side were restricted to 188 for 9.

During Rainford's successful chase, he took control of his match-winning century partnership with Craig Woods, scoring a run-a-ball 55 not out and sealing the win with a four off Charlie Fletcher.

"It was a great feeling to help see the lads home and walk back to the pavilion 50-odd not out to be embraced by the boys," Davies said. "John Dotters and Matty Bailey set a great platform for us and the plan when me and Craig Woods got in was to run hard, take the sting out of two quick wickets and make sure we put as much pressure back on the Alvanley bowlers as possible.

^{Conor Taylor won the award in round six [Photo: Goatacre CC]}

"We'd seen first innings that anything slightly overpitched could be latched onto, so I tried to ensure I was positive in my shot selection. To share a match-winning stand with my best mate was an incredible feeling.

"In the first innings my focus was to bowl a hard length and hit the pitch with cutters. It seemed to work quite nicely, and it made it difficult to score freely. It suits our ground with our short straight boundaries and bigger boundaries square of the wicket and the entire effort in the field from the lads was immense.

"The game was played in a fantastic spirit, and it was an honour to play in front of so many people cheering us on. The Alvanley lads are a fantastic bunch, and I'm sure they will go deep in next year's competition too. I'm really looking forward to the semi-final now!"

Captain Dotters, himself a Theakston Player of the Round winner earlier in the competition, added: "It was very pleasing news to hear Jimmy had been selected as the Player of the Round. With the ball, in the middle overs he was extremely consistent and bowled excellently at the death. Then with the bat he showed how versatile he can be to soak up pressure, rotate the strike well and make good, calculated risks to improve the scoring rate.

"He would be the first person to admit he probably hasn't had the personal results he would have wished for this season but through hard work, determination, and self-belief he came up with the goods in a high-pressured match. He proved to everybody on Sunday what an asset he is for us at Rainford with the ability to bowl in any situation and able to bat anywhere in the top six."

Rainford will host Dumbleton in the semi-finals on Sunday, July 31.

Jimmy Davies will receive a case of Theakston beer for being named the Player of the Round during the Voneus Village Cup. For more information about Theakston visit https://www.theakstons.co.uk/. Visit https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/ for the facts.