Brilliant centuries from Tom Daniels and Ian Rusell led the 1st XI to a much needed win over Gidea Park and Romford at Upminster Park on Saturday.  When the pair came together at 23-2 in the fourth over of Upminster's pursuit of 276, few would have predicted that around two and half hours later they would have all but secured a crucial victory for their side, but that was how things turned out on a warm and muggy afternoon.  Park won the toss and chose to bat first on a Mark Severn special, and half centuries from Imitaz Hossain and Aditya Kumar, both made at a good rate, put the visitors in charge.  However, four wickets from the excellent Max Carter-MIller pulled Upminster back into the game, before Shafiq Rahman bagged a brace of victims to further boost the home side's fightback  Shavawn Cunningham became the third Park batter to reach 50, but having looked like they would make more than 300 for much of their innings Park may have been a little disappointed to end on 275-8.

Ex Upminster man Will Chuter struck early for Park as the Upminster chase began, removing Mo Ahmad, and when Harry Thompson dismissed KIran Kullar the home side looked like they were in for a difficult afternoon.  Russell though was looking in good form and batted positively from the outset, and Daniels began to find his timing after a slow start.  The same batting combination had partnered to great effect at Ilford just a few weeks ago, but whereas much of that partnership had been about resistance this time both men were finding the boundary with ease, and rotating the strike well when they needed to.  Russell was first to reach his half century as the partnership reached three figures, and Daniels was not far behind in reaching his fifty as Park began to tire.  Russell continued to look in fine form and he soon brought his first ton for the club, from 96 balls, as the partnership neared two hundred.  It looked like Russell and Daniels were going to see Upminster home, but with 34 needed, Chuter finally dismissed Russell for a brilliant 116.  The run rate was under control thanks to the third wicket pairing, and new man James Evans ensured that remained the case as he immediately found his rhythm.  Daniels reached three figures with just a few needed for victory, and he ended on 106 not out as Upminster won by seven wickets with eight balls remaining.  Evans ended unbeaten on 21.  The win took Upminster into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Unfortunately that win was the only league victory of the day for the club, although the 3rd XI came close to securing a remarkable win, mainly thanks to a sensational knock from Steve Limn.  The left handed opener, who had previously made 170 not out against yesterday's opposition, Woodford Wells, made 162 not out this time (from just 118 balls), but his side fell just short of completing a remarkable chase.  Earlier in the day there had been two centurions for the home side with the experienced duo of Will Rogers and Mark Webb making 119 and 129 respectively.  Those innings, along with 45 not out from Saad Razi had helped Wells to pile up 362-4, a daunting total even on their famously high scoring ground.  Mark D'Cruz (1-63 from 11 overs) was the pick of the Upminster attack.  With a required run rate of nearly eight an over Upminster required a fast start and Limn gave them just that as he found the boundary regularly with his trademark cuts and pulls.  Limn and captain Dan Simpson had put on 50 for the first wicket before Simpson went for 16, and Matt Burch then gave good support to Limn as they kept Upminster in the game.  Even with such a big target Upminster began to take control as the experienced Wells line up began to feel the heat, and Limn soon brought up three figures as the visitors sensed a famous win.  The partnership was at 188 when Burch fell for 84 but new man Nathan French kept up with the pace as the runs required sunk below 100 and the run rate required remained just about under control.  26 were needed from the final two overs when French fell for 56 (from 34 balls) and 16 were then needed from the final over.  Unfortunately only five runs were scored and Upminster ended on 352-3 as an amazing game ended in a draw.  

The 2nd XI fell to a derby day defeat at Hornchurch and dropped to ninth in the table as a result.  The game was played at Cromer Road due to the ECN event taking place at Harrow Lodge Park (see separate report), and despite four of the top five making double figures John Curtis' 25 was top score as Upminster slumped from 68-2 to 136 all out. Kenny Coney did most of the damage for Hornchurch with 4-23.  Finley Tolan picked up an early wicket in the Hornchurch reply, but George Barnacle and Kieran Scarlioli put their side into a good position.  Upminster kept chipping away, and Curtis picked up two wickets to give his side late hope, but with Barnacle making 65 not out Hornchurch moved to a five wicket win.

Promotion chasing Chelmsford 3s proved strong for the 4th XI at Coopers.  Captain Matt Ingleson (47), Ben Calder (26) and Matt Mccarthy (49 not out) put the home side into a solid position at 116-2, however once again with the run rate needing to be raised the batting collapsed and no other batter made double figures as Upminster were bowled out for 170.  Ashiqur Rahman was the star of the show for Chelmsford, claiming superb figures of 7-39.  Ingleson and Aedan Daly each picked up a wicket during the Chelmsford chase, but the visitors were always in control and 51 not out from George Wilson saw them to a comfortable seven wicket win.

The 5th XI fell to a home loss against Westcliff on Sea at Campion.  Westcliff opener Paul Offord (46) gave his side a good start before two wickets each for Aalok Latey and Dylan Narbheram brought Upminster back into the game.  Silas Eeles Nolle steadied the ship for the visitors with 53 while occasional spinner Stewart Hammond picked up 3-27 as Westcliff ended on 214-9.  Hammond (42) and Lewis Munn (31) got Upminster's reply off to an excellent start, while Zach Lawes made 18 as Upminster reached 111-2.  Sahil Sidhar then took control for Westcliff, picking up 5-24 as Upminster collapsed, and despite 26 from Narbheram Upminster were bowled out for 171. 

It was a tough afternoon for the 6th XI as they fell to a heavy defeat at Chignal in Mid Essex Division 8.  Upminster fell to 15-4 on a difficult track and they never really recovered, being bowled out for 90 despite 27 from Harry Bradford and double figure contributions from Chris Brabin and Oscar Sousanna.  Ed Knight picked up three wickets as Chignal had a wobble of their own, but Neil Collins and Martin Clarke saw the home side to a six wicket win.

There was an equally tough afternoon for the 7th XI who lost out to Galleywood who had started the day at the foot of the Mid Essex Division 9 table.  Tim Sallis and Paul Blowers both made half centuries for Galleywood, and although five Upminster bowlers picked up a wicket for their side, a sloppy effort in the field allowed the home side to reach 226-5.  A fifth wicket partnership between Max Malby and John French gave Upminster brief hope, but they were always up against it, and even though Sanjay Narbheram struck some late blows Upminster were all out for 133.