Nabeel Aziz helped spin Upminster to a fourth consecutive win, as his 4-33 helped to see off Orsett and Thurrock at Upminster Park. The visitors had reached 88-2, with Paul Bennett and Nawaz Ahmad going well, when Aziz came into the attack and turned the game. He dismissed both of the set batsmen and picked up two further wickets as Orsett collapsed. Ejaz Khan and Ollie Peck also picked up two wickets as the Division One strugglers slid to 158 all out.

The Upminster reply did not get off to a good start as they fell to 41-3, before Louis Pickering and Alan Ison put on 52 for the fourth wicket. Ison fell for 42 and Shaffiq Rahman fell for a duck to leave the game in the balance, but the experienced Terry Wyatt joined Pickering and they both finished unbeaten on 35 to see Upminster home by five wickets. (Scoreard)

The 2nd XI were involved in a thrilling contest at Wanstead and Snaresbrook, as the game ended in a tie, which kept Upminster’s charge for the title on track. Upminster looked in early trouble with the loss of three quick wickets, but Adam Quested (62) and Jordan Tigg (47) got them back on track. Three of the last four batsmen then reached double figures to help Upminster’s total up to 228, aided by 49 extras. Suminda Balage Don picked up four wickets for the home side. Waseem Qureshi made an excellent 54 to give the Wanstead reply some early impetus, and although Upminster hit back Ismail Dar and Adam Lord put the home side in the box seat with 15 overs to go. The introduction of Tom Daniels into the Upminster attack was the catalyst for the game to swing once again as he dismissed Dar and then ran through the middle order. Wanstead were left needing 32 from the final three overs but Lord took 19 from the 43rd and eventually Wanstead were left needing three from the final over with just one wicket in hand. That was reduced to one from three balls, before Lord hit Will Chuter into the grateful hands of Rob White at backward point to leave the game tied. Lord had made 85, while Daniels finished with 6-25 on his birthday!!! (Scorecard)

Josh Lamont’s 3rd XI stayed on course for the title with a routine win at Chelmsford. Spin was the key for the visitors with Nathan Bright picking up 5-30 and receiving good support from fellow spinners Lamont and Ant Limn. Matthew Davis and Charles Garrard both passed 40 for the home side but they were all out for 167 with one ball remaining. Steve Limn and James Ramsden got the Upminster reply of to a solid start and Josh Lamont (45) and Pete Thompson kept the innings moving well. The skipper fell with the finishing line in sight, but Thompson and Matt McCarthy saw their side home with seven wickets and plenty of overs in hand. (Scorecard)

It was a familiar story for the 4th XI who once again put in a good performance for much of the afternoon, but ended up on the wrong end of a narrow defeat. A disciplined bowling performance from all of the Upminster attack tied Hutton down, with Ryan Brown, Rohan Mayor and Sam Twine all picking up two wickets. Steve Hammond top scored for Hutton with 37 as they finished on 173-7. Captain Stewart Hammond then made 45 and Upminster reached 71-1 to get themselves into a strong position. However, they then fell to 78-6 as Craig Miller entered the attack. The lower order did their best to rescue the situation for Upminster with Will Frost making 20 and Kevin Roome an unbeaten 20, but it was just to much for Upminster as they were bowled out for 161 to lose by 12 runs. (Scorecard)

The 5th XI moved away from the danger zone with a comfortable win over Fives and Heronians. Brian Martin returned to action and claimed 3-33 and with support from Callum Berry, David Cowley and skipper Karim Govni, Fives were bowled out for 146. Mike Thompson (43) top scored for the visitors. Dave Brown made 40 to get the Upminster chase off to a fast start and Jack Eade made 37 to move them closer to victory. Youngsters Berry and Ollie Woods then saw them home by five wickets, and with 18 overs remaining. (Scorecard)

It was a long afternoon for the 6th XI as they fell to a heavy defeat against a powerful Brentwood 5th XI. Shane Surujbally made a double century (203), his second of the season unbelievably, and received support from Callum Balsom, who made an excellent 119, as Brentwood smashed 402-3 on a beautiful afternoon at Mountnessing. Lloyd Sutton picked up impressive figures of 1-44 from his eight overs, while Mushoon Mustofa claimed two wickets and Molly Amrani bowled well in difficult conditions. Upminster were never going to be in the chase but did show great fight to see out 23 overs of their reply, especially as they were missing two players who picked up injuries in the Brentwood innings. Martin Davis, skipper Ray Calder and Sutton all passed 20, but Calder’s side were all out for 102. (Scorecard)