Upminster produced one of their best results of recent years on Sunday as they knocked Banstead out of the Conference Cup in Surrey. Ollie Peck won the toss and chose to bat and he saw the Butt brothers put on 50 for the opening wicket before Freddie fell for 15. Shahbaz then went for 45 but Kiran Kullar and Louis Pickering added an excellent 75 for the third wicket before Pickering was bowled by the impressive Arsalan Abbas for 44. Abbas went on to claim 4-32 but he could not remove Kullar who made 80 not out from 114 balls, and with Nicky Ison adding 30 from 22 balls at the end of the innings, Upminster closed on 249-8 from their 45 overs. Billy Wright struck early in the Banstead reply but Paul Leary and Liam McKendry rebuilt well for the home side. Leary was run out by Kullar for 36 but McKendry (55) and Cameron Gannon (66) put Banstead on course for victory. They were both removed through by Shahbaz whose wily cutters and slower balls accounted for both men on the way to his best figures for the Club of 6-55. With the rest of the Upminster attack keeping things tight from the other end Banstead’s innings fell away and they were dismissed for 197 to give Upminster a fine win by 52 runs. (Scorecard)

Bank Holiday Monday also provided some cheer in the Essex League Dukes T20, but ultimately Upminster missed out on a third successive appearance at Finals Day. In their lunchtime semi-final with Southend on Sea & EMT, Pickering (49) and Shahbaz (89) starred again before some late boundaries from Harry Jenkins lifted the Upminster total to 212-4. Carl Lees and Callum Dunce looked for a while like they may chase down the huge total, but Shahbaz continued his remarkable weekend with 3-21 and Ellis Pickering chipped in with 2-10 as Southend were bowled out for 166 and Upminster advanced to the evening Final. (Scorecard)

The Group Final saw Harold Wood bat first and Scott Fisher got Upminster off to a great start with two quick wickets to reduce Wood to 24-2. Ollie Peck’s impressive spell of 1-17 from his four overs kept the pressure on, but Wood used their last eight overs well and 57 from Shahbaz Khan saw them finish on 191-6. Harry Thompson then knocked the stuffing out of Upminster’s reply with an opening spell of 3-26 and although Pickering completed an excellent weekend with 56, and Jenkins and Shaffiq Rahman showed good support, Upminster were bowled out for 119. Good luck to Harold Wood as they travel to Billericay for their first Finals Day next month. (Scorecard)

Saturday had seen the 1st XI put in a better performance against Loughton at Upminster Park. Pickering picked up two early wickets, but Raihan Hussain batted throughout the Loughton innings to make a marvelous 153 not out. With Mo Fahad making 67 Loughton were able to piled up 295-5 despite 2-25 from James Aggio-Brewe. Shahbaz then did his best to emulate Hussain as he made a run a ball 115 to put Upminster in with a chance of victory but only Pickering (39) made a meaningful contribution in support as Upminster had to hang on for the draw. Youngster Tom Daniels showed great maturity to bat over an hour for an unbeaten 15 as Upminster closed on 222-7. (Scorecard)

The 2nd XI put in an excellent performance but just missed out on their first win of the season at Wanstead. Paul Middlemiss made 27 but Upminster fell into trouble at 63-3. Nicky Ison and Frank Hazle then put together an excellent fourth wicket partnership to put Upminster in charge. Ison made a determined 57 and Hazle made a marvelous 87 from 90 balls as the visitors took control. Josh Lamont then took the game away from Wanstead as he made 52 from 25 balls and Upminster closed on 263-5. Scott Fisher struck early in reply but Wanstead then steadily rebuilt. Captain Billy Wright then struck twice in two overs and with Ison and Lamont also amongst the wickets it looked like Upminster may snatch victory. However, Joe Palmer stood firm for an unbeaten 53 and Wanstead saw out time at 204-8. (Scorecard)

There was also frustration for the 3rd XI in their top of the table clash with Brentwood. Rob Mack continued his fine form for Upminster with 40, and James Ramsden made 42 against a strong Brentwood attack. Max Carter Miller then hit 23 as Upminster reached 216 before being bowled out in the final over. Carter-Miller and veteran Andy Berry then ripped through the Brentwood top order and reduced the home side to 38-7 and then 79-9. Carter Miller finished with 5-33 and Berry with 3-23, but Dave Balroop and last man Oscar Torrado dug in to try and fend of defeat for their side. They eventually batted 17 overs, with Balroop finishing on 34 not out as Brentwood closed on 111-9. (Scorecard)

The 4th XI fell to defeat at home to Hutton 3rd XI after an equally frustrating afternoon. Will Bottoms claimed 4-37 and with good support from the rest of the attack Hutton were restricted to 196-8. Luke Harris and James Scammell both made half centuries for Hutton. Ian Munn and Gary Carr (53) helped Upminster to reach 83-2 in reply, and the game looked set for an exciting finish, but the innings fell away in dramatic style and Upminster were bowled out for 111 with six people picking up ducks. (Scorecard)

With Harlow Town 3s having withdrawn from the league, the 5th XI faced Oakfield Parkonians 6th XI, and Rafe Smallman helped himself to his maiden century for the Club. Smallman made an unbeaten 101, Alex Ward made 74 from 36 balls and Matt Malby made a late 24 as Upminster piled up 253-9. Michael Jones then picked up 4-24 as Parkes were dismissed for 127. (Scorecard)

Sunday saw Dave Brown’s Friendly XI see off Old Fallopians at Upminster Park, with Josh Lamont and Mike Larke in the runs. (Scorecard)