It was a remarkable Sunday for our junior sides with four teams winning their Central Cup competitions and another narrowly missing out. Today's wins come on the back of last Sunday's U14 success and there is still the chance of further glory next weekend with one final still to be played.

First to get their hands on some Sunday silverware were the U13 Utras who raced to a 10 wicket win over Shenfield at Chelmer Park. Upminster decided to bowl first upon winning the toss and Jack Butler and Max Barber picked up an early wicket each to put their side on top. It was then over to Elliott Russell who produced a sensational four over burst that put the game beyond Shenfield. Russell picked up 5-12, including a brilliant hattrick, with all five victims clean bowled as Shenfield fell from 20-2 to 46-7. Billy Sheridan then ran through the lower order, and despite an excellent 24 not out from number three William Clark, Shenfield were dismissed for 58. Captain William Peck wasted no time in the Upminster reply, smashing ten boundaries before retiring on 41 from 24 balls, and it was then left to Sheridan and Kayhan Suneel to take their side to a ten wicket win.

Meanwhile, back down the A12 at Harold Wood Park, the U15 Girls produced their best performance of the season to beat Billericay in a thrilling contest. Having decided to bowl first there were early wickets for Priya Somani and Mari Stander before Amrit Kaur (38) and Ellie Farmer (24) put Billericay into a good position. Keya Shah and Shaniya Popat dismissed the pair to bring Upminster back into the game, while there was some excellent fielding from Emmy Willson. Lily Giordmaina then grabbed a late wicket as Ricay' finished on 133-5. Somani and Maisie Briggs got the Upminster reply off to a good start and after they had fallen, Shah and Imogen Croker combined to keep Upminster on track. Shah fell for 28 but Croker stayed calm and got good support from Amelia Davies and Mila Price as Upminster moved towards the victory line, Six runs were needed from the final over, and although a wicket fell to the first ball Croker and Popat kept their nerve and saw Upminster to a four wicket win with two balls to spare.

It was nearly three morning trophies for the club as the U12 Girls narrowly missed out in their final against Hornchurch Athletic. Myla Carter picked up an early wicket for Upminster, but Willow Sammons and Olive Clarke-Irons put on 54 for the second wicket as Athletic took charge. Some excellent keeping from Alice Fletcher gave Upminster the breakthrough via a run out and Esme Burchell then picked up two wickets as Upminster fought back. However, despite a sharp run out from Minnie Bird, some late runs from the Athletic middle order took them to a respectable, but chaseable, 110-5. A second wicket stand of 50 between Celine Leung and Jess Thorogood (30*) put Upminster into a good position, but as Athletic's spinners came into the attack the required run rate went up and Upminster began to lose wickets. 16 runs were eventually needed from the last over but Athletic kept their composure and restricted Upminster, who finished on 98-5

The afternoon then provided two further thrilling contests that went right to the wire before Upminster claimed the trophies in both. At Writtle CC, the U11 Girls decided to bat first and they recovered well from losing two early wickets through Eva Gordon and Esme Burchell who put their side into a good position with a 64 run partnership for the third wicket. Burchell went for 20 and Gordon reached the retirement mark (33*) and wickets then began to fall regularly as Upminster chased late runs. It looked like Upminster may post a below par total until Betsy Moore and Nancy Fulcher put on 15 for the last wicket to take the total to 132 all out. Athletic's reply got off to a solid but somewhat slow start before a run out gave Upminster the breakthrough, but Aanya Mediratta looked in good form and reached the retirement mark to put her side in a good position. However, Burchell, Moore and Evie Foley picked up wickets in the middle order and Upminster gradually began to take control. 33 were needed from the final three overs but Willow Sammons kept Athletic in the game and ten were then needed from the final over. Sammons reached the retirement mark and Burchell then bowled Mahi Patel for 17 as Upminster closed in on victory and Burchell then produced three dot balls as Upminster won by seven runs to spark joyous scenes.

At Chelmer Park the U10 Ultras fielded first and Issac Wharton picked up an early wicket to raise Upminster hopes. An excellent piece of fielding secured the second Brentwood wicket but Karthik Prabhu looked in excellent form and found the boundary regularly. Prabhu (30*) reached the retirement mark and from that point Upminster began to get on top. Toby Wright picked up two wickets in an excellent over while Wharton returned to the attack and ended with figures of 3-33 as Brentwood were bowled out for 89 with more than five overs not used. Upminster lost two early wickets in reply but Wharton (20) and Lyell Hedblad (15) both made good contributions to keep their side in the game. At 58-5 the game was very much in the balance but Wright and Aiden Hickey put on 24 for the sixth wicket to swing things Upminster's way. Two quick wickets put things back in the balance and five runs were eventually needed from the final over. Hickey and Jaxon Arkley-Wade showed great composure to take the five singles needed and it was Upminster skipper Elliott Peck who was able to lift the trophy.

There was also an excellent performance from the U9 Ultras who put in an excellent performance to finish their season with a brilliant win over Billericay in the Central League.