2s SURVIVE - 4s PROMOTED!!!
It was another exciting and successful last day of the season for UCC.
The 2nd XI eventually needed 8 points from their trip to Brentwood to ensure their Premier Division status for 2010 and they got them with ease...... eventually!! They slipped to 10-2 at one stage, but 60 each from Mike Rath and Andrew D'Cruz pushed them towards the 200 mark, and a classy 41 from Elliot Bussey saw them over the line. They went on to make 256-9 and in reply looked like the only winners as Brentwood held on at 205-8. Dan Tyler picked up 3 wickets and Andrew Berry 2. (Scorecard)
Will Sissen's 4th XI were promoted for the 3rd season in 4, after their win against Southend, and Benfleet 3s defeat against Billericay. Batting first on a poor wicket only Paul Bussey (35) made any meaningful contribution as the promotion chasers were bundled out for 123. In reply though Southend always looked like struggling, and 4 wickets apiece from Will Sissen and Vikesh Patel gave them a 29 run victory. They then had to wait for news from Benfleet, but when it was confirmed they had lost heavily to Billericay, promotion to 3rd XI Div 2 was secure. (Scorecard)
In other games the 1st XI lost a high scoring thriller with Brentwood. Upminster made 304-7 from their 50 overs, mainly thanks to a fine 134 from Alan Ison. There were also runs from Nick O'Dell and Shaffiq Rahman. However, Brentwood showed why they are worthy champions for 2009 as they reached their target with 2 overs and 5 wickets in hand.
The 3rd XI finished their season on a high with victory over Brentwood. Russ Murphy made 60 as Upminster made 212-6 before declaring early. In reply Brentwood were always up against it and were skittled out for 98.
The 5th XI fell to defeat in a high scoring encounter with Harold Wood 4s. Upminster batted first and made 257-9. The highlight of the innings was a fine century from Mark Mayor. It wasn't enough though as Wood edged over the line by two wickets.
Paul Scott's 6th XI finished the season with a narrow defeat to Leigh on Sea 4th XI. Only Billy Wright showed much resistance with the bat as Scott's men were bowled out for 127. Wright then picked up 4 wickets and Mike Jones 3 as Leigh struggled, but an unbeaten 23 from John Monk saw Leigh home by just one wicket. (Scorecard)
On Sunday the 3rd XI lost an entertaining friendly to Leyton Orient Supporters Club.
Final Saturday League Finishing Positions:
First XI 7th - 1st XI Premier Division
Second XI 8th - 2nd XI Premier Division
Third XI 6th - 3rd XI Premier Division
Fourth XI 2nd - 3rd XI Division 3
Fifth XI 6th - 4th XI Premier Division
Sixth XI 5th - 4th XI Division 2
LEAGUE 20/20 CUP - RESULT
Upminster lost their Quarter Final match at South Woodford yesterday evening.
South batted first and made 157 in their 20 overs, mainly thanks to some fine strokes from Carl Greenidge. Alan Ison and James Aggio-Brewe were the pick of the bowlers.
In reply despite two early wickets, Upminster were in good shape at halfway thanks to Ison and Akhbar Jabar. However, their dismissals triggered a flurry of wickets, including three run outs, and Upminster were bowled out in the darkness for 137 in the penultimate over.
Good luck to South Woodford who go on to face Brentwood in the Finals Day at Billericay on 16th August.
Weekend Review - 13th/14th June
It was a pretty good weekend for Upminster, with 5 wins from the 8 senior matches played, and just one defeat.The 1st XI played out a draw with 2008 Champions, Wanstead. Batting first Upminster made 264-9, thanks to fifties from Steve Wright and Mark Squibb and other useful contributions from Terry Wyatt, Naeem Iqbal, Shaffiq Rahman and Akbar Jabar. In reply Wanstead never looked like reaching the target, but a brilliant century from Adnan Akram made it difficult for Upminster, and despite the efforts of spinners Iqbal and Oliver Peck, Wanstead held on for the draw at 218-8.
The 2nd XI also drew with Wanstead, but it was a case of roles reversed from the 1st XI game. Wanstead batted first and made 280-4, mainly thanks to 130 not out from Arthur Jennings. Andrew Berry was the pick of the Upminster attack. In reply Mark Schofield and Steve Mack got Upminster off to a flying start, but when they both fell the chase flatered slightly, but Matt Tigg and Barry Sturgeon ensured the draw as Upminster closed on 212-5.
The Weekend's only losers were the 3rd XI, against their Wanstead counterparts. Upminster batted first and made 228, thanks to fifties from skipper Chris Cully and veteran Robert Mack. In reply though some wayward bowling meant Wanstead were able to cruise to their total for the loss of just 3 wickets.
The 4th XI recorded a fine victory against Billericay's 3rd XI. Batting first Upminster posted 257-5 thanks to half centuries from Duncan Bray, Stewart Hammond and the evergreen Paul Bussey. The visitors never looked like reaching their target, and the heavyweight trio of David Staples, Kevin Roome and Will Sissen picked up the wickets to give Upminster a comfortable win.
Karim Govani's 5th Team made it two wins in two weeks with a fine win against Ardleigh Green 4s. The star of the show was the skipper himself, who bagged career best figures of 8-55 (seven of them bowled) to bowl out Green for 158. In reply Sam Langston and Russ Savidge made useful contributions, before youngsters Jordan Tigg and Alex Bottoms saw Upminster home by 4 wickets.
The biggest winners of the day were the 6th XI. They smashed 292-1 in just forty overs thanks to maiden hundreds from Rashed Rahman and Brad Khan. In reply Fives and Heronians were skittled out for just 103, to give Upminster a victory by 189 runs!!
On Sunday the 1st XI advanced in the League Cup after beating South Woodford. Upminster recovered from 63-5 to reach 174, and in reply some fine pace bowling from Alan Ison (5 wickets) meant Upminster got home by 30 runs. They will play Colchester or Fives and Heronians in the next round.
On the adjacent pitch the 2nd XI also beat South Woodford. The "Dutch Twins" Billy Wright and Kevin Roome did the damage with the ball, before Nicky Ison and Mark D'Cruz both made fifties as Upminster won by 9 wickets.
The Matchplay side also recorded their first win of the season, at home to Harold Wood. Tome Leach was the star of the show making 61.
WEEKEND REVIEW - JUNE 21st/22nd
It was another poor weekend results wise for Upminster, with just one League victory and one drawn league game.The 1st XI made 248-9 against league leaders Brentwood at the Old County Ground. Harry Jenkins made a sparkling 78, and there were also useful contributions from Alan Ison, Nick O'Dell and skipper Oliver Peck. In reply though, Brentwood cruised to a 7 wicket victory. Sri Lankan star Kasun Bodisha made a chanceless 123 not out and he was well supported by skipper John Walford as the home side extended their lead at the top of the table.
The 2nd XI also fell to defeat against Brentwood in their Premier Division encounter. Paul Bussey made 43 not out, but Pete Thompson and veteran Rob Mack were the only other batsman to pass 20 as Upminster were bowled out for 152 in the 58th over. In reply, Tom Simpson picked up 3 wickets on his 2nd XI debut, but that could not stop Brentwood winning by 4 wickets.
The losing streak was ended by the 3rd XI who drew an entertaining clash with their Brentwood counterparts. Upminster batted first and Paul Middlemiss (79) and Rashed Rahman (70) put on 169 for the first wicket. After they fell quick runs from Kev McNeela, Nicky Ison and Jamie O'Dell meant Upminster finished on 286-8. In reply a fine innings from young Brentwood opener Elliot Skinner (84) kept Brentwood in the hunt, but some excellent bowling from Chris Ryan (2-80 in 20 overs) and Mark Mayor meant that Brentwood closed on 246-7.
Will Sissen's 4th XI fell to a surprise defeat at bottom of the table Southend. Billy Wright (4-65) shone with the ball as Upminster restricted the home side to 188-5 from their 52 overs. But in reply Upminster never got going and were bowled out for 144. 4 players passed twenty but none made it to 30.
The 5th XI also fell to defeat against local rivals, Harold Wood 4th XI. Ant Lim made 26 and Gwynne Mack 23, but Upminster were dismissed for a lowly 128. In reply 3 wickets for Pete Williams gave Upminster some hope, but Wood held firm and went on to win by 4 wickets.
Paul Scott's 6th XI were the only winners of the day (not for the first time this season!!!) against Leigh on Sea 4th XI. Bilhal Mazhar made an unbeaten 105 for Leigh, as they amassed 277 for 6 in 49 overs. It wasn't enough though!!! The skipper made 65 and Michael Jones 61 to keep Upminster in the game, before Phil Hammond came to the crease and crashed 84 not out, as Upminster raced to a 5 wicket victory, after just 36 overs!!!
The 7th XI made their first appearance of the 2009 season, but an inexperienced side fell to a heavy defeat against Stratford Wesleyan.
On Sunday the 2nd XI cruised to an emphatic victory against Loxford Falcons. Alan Ison smashed 116 and Scott Hammond 102 as Upminster passed the 200 mark. In reply Falcons were never in the hunt and were bowled out for less than 150, with Billy Wright again amongst the wickets.
Herongate's picturesque ground was not big enough for 1st XI skipper Ollie Peck as he smashed a brutal unbeaten century for the Sunday 3rd XI. Peck smashed 11 sixes (and a few roof tiles!!), and bought up his 100 from the last ball of the innings. There were also runs from Paul Middlemiss (59) ,Lloyd Sutton (42) and Tom Leach (25), as the visitors made 272 for 4 from their 40 overs. In reply Herongate were always in the hunt but when skipper Lee Newton fell for 55 their chances faded and they closed on 240-7 to give Upminster a 32 run victory in a thoroughly entertaining game.
Weekend Review
Another struggle this weekend with only the 6thXI gaining a positive result with a win over South Woodford 5thXI with a 6 wicket win thanks to 59 from Rashid Rahmen. This makes it two wins in a row for the 6thXI who are currently sitting 6th in the league.
The 1stXI faced Ardleigh Green who managed to chalk up there first win by defeating us by 32 runs. After being set 252 the 1stXI were bowled out for 220 with A Jabar reaching 57. Upminster are now sitting second from bottom with only one win from three games.
The 2ndXI bowling let them down as they were sent to all parts on a good wicket by Shenfield. Shenfield racked up a massive total of 280 despite Rob Bannister 4/47. In reply Upminster never got going and rarely got going with only Elliot Bussey (48) who got going.