Albany and Districts ready to make a statement in Belt-Up Country Cup T20 double header in bid to reach final

Albany and Districts Cricket Association are out to make a statement when they travel to Bunbury on Sunday for a final round T20 double-header of the Belt-Up Country Cup, according to captain Coen Marwick. The Whalers will take on Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association in game one before locking horns with WA Invitational XI in the afternoon with the top two teams in the competition booking a spot in the final. Manypeaks veteran Ryan Kinnear, wicketkeeper-bat Seb Stanton and Royals bat Ryan Davies all make way in the side which welcomes Lions pacer Daniel Thomas, Perth-based Albany youngster Charlie Walters and Harry Grigson. Despite making a successful return last weekend from knee surgery, star Lions top-order batter Lincoln Joy will miss the trip. The Whalers trail the ladder-leading Blue Swans only by net run rate and Marwick believes his side is in good form and eager to send a statement to the competition in their opening match on Sunday. “It’d be really good if we could knock (Bunbury) off that first game on their home turf,” he said. “It will pretty well sew up a spot in the final for us and I think it really puts a statement on the comp that we’re here to play, we mean business and we really want to win it. “The first power play really sets up T20s so we’ll go nice and hard in there, get a positive start, have a good platform, and hopefully get a good score on the board, bowl to our plans and win the games.” The ADCA has not yet started their T20 fixtures this season, but the Whalers’ win against Peel last month was limited to 25 overs and gave them an early insight into short format cricket. “Obviously we haven’t played any T20 cricket down here to start the year but that last Peel game being a 25-over game is pretty similar,” Marwick said. “It was a pretty similar way to how we want to play our cricket. I think we were really positive that day. “We bowled really well to plans and took it on with the bat, and that’s exactly what I’m after.” Marwick said his team boasted a dangerous and well-balanced bowling attack. “I think we do (have a good bowling attack),” he said. “I think Jez (Wood) has been bowling really well to start the year, Hayden (Davies) is in sensational form and DJ (Thomas) brings something different. “And then with with Joe (Stanley), Greeny (Mitch Green) and Angus (Thompson) as the spin options, I think we’ve got a lot of options we can to throw the ball too.” The Whalers’ first match against Bunbury and Districts starts at 11am at Forrest Park before the second one gets under way against WA Invitational XI at 2.45pm at the same venue. COUNTRY CUP TEAMS Albany and Districts CA Coen Marwick (C) Jeremy Wood (VC) Mitch Green Joe Stanley Harry Grigson Angus Thompson Daniel Thomas Jack Pope Kobus Wessels (WK) Hayden Davies Charlie Walters