It was a Super Saturday for the club with seven sides in action, and six wins recorded.  As the season nears the final third, all of our Saturday sides have plenty still to play for and the last few weeks of the summer should provide plenty of excitement.

The 1st XI kept up their excellent form with a comprehensive win over Woodford Wells at Upminster Park.  After the recent scores at HQ, some may have thought it was a brave decision when Alan Ison won the toss and chose to field, but the skipper's decision was soon fully justified as JJ Smuts and Nehal Butt ran through the Wells top order.  At 18-5 it looked like the game may be heading for an even earlier finish than it eventually did, but Gareth James and Robert Kingham dug in to try and help their side out of trouble.  However, Smuts removed James as he went on to claim 5-41, and Billy Wright removed Kingham as Wells struggled to make three figures.  Shaffiq Rahman showed he still has it with two late victims, and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 106.  Smuts fell early in the Upminster reply, but Pulkit Gupta and James Evans put on 59 for the second wicket to take their side to the brink of victory, and although both men fell before the end, Kiran Kullar and Nehal Butt saw their side to a seven wicket success, as Upminster cemented second spot in the table.

The only defeat of the day came from the most unexpected of sources, as the 2nd XI were well beaten by their Wells counterparts at Monkhams Lane.  Wells made a solid start to their innings, but two wickets apiece from Rohan Mayor and captain Nicky Ison evened things up.  However, Kunal Sharma then cut loose for the home side to help them towards a big total.  The middle order batsman made a brilliant unbeaten 141 not out, and with help from Robert McNeill and Charles Scott, Wells were able to reach a challenging 292-6 before declaring five overs early.  Such chases have not been a problem for the 2nd XI in the last two seasons, but on this occasion it was not to be.  Six batsmen made double figures, but only Stu Connor and Jordan Tolan passed twenty as Upminster were rolled out for 145.

Game of the day, and result of the day, came at Coopers as the 3rd XI stayed in the title race with a brilliant win over Ilford.  Dan Simpson won the toss and chose to bowl, and people may have been doubting that decision at the halfway point as Ilford piled up a huge total.  Young opener Vrishin Sangireddy made an excellent 71 for Ilford before Aneek Roy smashed a brutal 150 to put Ilford on top.  Upminster did not help themselves as they dropped a number of chances in the field, and despite Dylan Mansell claiming 3-84, Ilford were able to close on 311-8.  Steve Limn and Simpson fell early in the Upminster innings, but Gus Siggins and Sam Twine didn't panic and got Upminster back into the game with an excellent partnership.  Although the run rate required was seven an over from the start of the chase, the two young batters kept the scoreboard moving as they put on a brilliant 163 for the second wicket.  Siggins fell just after drinks for 69 before Alex Ward kept things moving with a quickfire 22.  Rob Mack then joined Twine and Twine soon brought up his first ever ton in style with a huge six over mid-wicket.  He fell soon after for 106, but Mack and Michael Jones kept Upminster on track.  Mack finally finished things off with a four down the ground, the left hander finishing on 38 not out as Upminster got home with four wickets and nearly two overs to spare.

There was a much needed win for the 4th XI as they squeezed past Belhus 3s at Ockendon Rec.  Tom Young claimed a superb hattrick the first of his career, and Ben Hamberger was in the wickets, as the home side were bundled out for 120.  Ian Munn played a solid knock at the top of the innings, and at 71-2 Upminster looked to be cruising towards victory.  However, a collapse set nerves jangling before Upminster got over the line by two wickets.
The 5th XI stayed in the promotion race with a win at Oakfield Parkonians 4s.  Ryan Brown claimed four wickets but Parks were able to reach 174-9.  The Upminster chase was a tense affair but they eventually got home by four wickets.

The 6th XI also stayed in title contention with a fine victory over Orsett and Thurrock at Campion.  Veteran Don Triggs rolled back the years with a vintage to take 5-54, and with Thomas Cargill also picking up two wickets the visitors were shot out for 92.  Ray Calder and Harry Lawes then made solid contributions with the bat as Calder's men cruised to a seven wicket win.

There was also a friendly victory for the 7th XI as they overcame Wickford 5s at Coopers.  Issac Horsley and Patrick Gulvin were the pick of a nine man Upminster attack as Wickford made 180-8 from their 40 overs.  Vice-Chairman Rob Bannister then showed that class is permanent as he made a brilliant unbeaten 105 to steer his side to a five wicket win.  Gulvin completed an excellent afternoon making an unbeaten 22.  

On Sunday the Friendly XI enjoyed an excellent match with Wandering City Boys.  The Boys made 267-1 from their 40 overs, before Scott Fisher (51), Mit Shah (81) and Nathan Brown with a brilliant 96 not out saw Upminster to a six wicket win.