After a season of wind, rain and cloud, the sun finally shone on Sunday with the Central Board Finals Day being played out on one of the warmest days of the year.

Upminster had reached three of the four finals taking place and there were a few sore heads amongst the supporters for the first of those matches, where our U9 Ultras were taking on Billericay. Upminster won the toss and opted to bowl first, and this decision was vindicated as Stefan Stander struck twice early on. Billericay rebuilt though, with Bertie Cameron looking in fine form. Cameron reached the retirement mark of 30 and Upminster then came back into the game with wickets for Ryan Arun, Leo McNeela and Oliver Croom. This combined with some tight bowling from Ernie Wyatt and some excellent keeping from Charlie Ernest, alongside fine fielding from Mari Stander, Elliot Peck and Zach Gordon helped Upminster to restrict Ricay’ to 110-5 from their 20 overs. However, Cameron then continued his excellent morning by picking up four early wickets to leave Upminster 23-8. Upminster’s lower order showed great fight though, with Croom, Kian Shepherd and Joshua Quilter playing some excellent shots. In the end though, Billericay’s disciplined bowling and fielding proved to much as they prevailed by 76 runs. It has however been a fine season for Terry Wyatt’s side, and they will be in action during the tea interval at next week’s Benefit Match with Essex at Upminster Park (10th September, 2.45pm).

The U13s Final between Harold Wood and Hornchurch was taking place on the adjacent pitch, with Hornchurch eventually winning a thrilling contest, and after the completion of that match the presentation of all league winners for the season took place, with Upminster picking up a number of honours:

UCC Central League Winners:

U9 Softball West
U10 Division 1
U11 Division 1
U10 Girls Softball
U12 Girls Softball
U13 Girls Hardball

UCC Central League Runners-Up:

U13 Div 2 West
U15 Div 1

The afternoon session was a battle between Upminster and Brentwood on both pitches. In the U11s Final Upminster started well with William Peck making 21, but spinner Ethan Lowe turned the game Brentwood’s way with a remarkable spell. He took 5-11 from his four overs as Upminster fell to 49-8. However, Oscar Hayes led a late fight back for Upminster to keep them in the game. He made 15 not out, and with support from Aadit Latey and Archie Williams Upminster managed to post a competitive 74-9. Brentwood’s innings followed a similar pattern as Blake Webster and Rithik Prabhu put their side into a good position before Anay Narbheram came into the attack. The young spinner picked up 2-8 from his four overs as Upminster put the squeeze on the Brentwood innings. When Hayes removed James Williamson for 11 the game was on a knife edge, but Ahrav Kotecha kept his nerve for Brentwood and steered his side to a three wicket win with three balls to spare. Well done to Billy Wright and his team for reaching the final, and they still have plenty to play for starting with a crucial Havering League game at Rainham this evening.

While there was disappointment in the U9s and U11s finals, there were celebrations after the U15s final as Upminster put in a commanding performance to beat Brentwood and lift the trophy. Having been asked to bat first, Ross Taylor and Mo Ahmad got Upminster off to a brilliant start with a flurry of early boundaries. Taylor was dismissed by Jack Carpenter, but Mit Shah joined Ahmad and they continued to pepper the side-lines with both men striking maximums straight down the ground on two occasions each. Ahmad reached the retirement mark of 50 from just 27 balls and Shah did the same soon after from 33 balls, as Upminster moved towards a big score. Stan Moore and Avanish Ajmani provided some late hitting to keep things moving and Upminster closed on 168-5. That looked like a match-winning score at the halfway mark, but Brentwood’s Matthew Palmer had other ideas. He started the innings with a flurry of fours and sixes, and with support from Zach Ellis put Brentwood into a strong position after five overs. However, a superb piece of fielding from Patrick Gulvin ran out Palmer and the game immediately changed direction. Upminster’s spin trio of Ahmad (3-22), Joseph Brooks (2-15) and Moore (1-17) turned the screw, and backed up by some excellent fielding from the likes of Michael Pedrick and Ethan Berry Upminster took control. It was left to all-rounder Thomas Cargill to claim the final two wickets as Brentwood were bowled out for 108 to give Upminster a sixty run victory. Upminster’s brilliant captain Joshan Narbheram received the trophy to cap a superb season for this squad. There will not be a more deserving or hardworking team to win a trophy this season than this group, so well done to manager Rob Bannister for all he has done with them.

Many thanks are due to Bentley CC for hosting such a brilliant Finals Day once again. The hospitality provided throughout the day was first class, and we hope to be able to return again in 2024. And a huge thank you to Jan West and her team from the Central District Board for all of their work this year, and every other year, in helping to ensure so much cricket is played and that the Central District provides the highest quality and most well organised competitions for our young players to take part in.

The season is not yet over for our junior sides either!!! The U10s face Brentwood today (Monday, 3.00pm) in the Central Cup Final at Upminster Park, our U12s face Hutton in the Central Cup Final on Saturday at Upminster Park (also 3.00pm) and a number of our teams also have Havering League games over the coming week. And all of our sides will be in action at some point during the day on Sunday as we welcome Essex CCC to Upminster Park for our annual Benefit Match.