JJ Smuts recorded the highest ever individual score by an Upminster player in the PlayCricket era, and we are 99% sure the highest score ever by any batter at the club, with a quite remarkable innings of 278 not out against Chingford on the opening day of the Hamro Foundation Essex League season. JJ strode out to the wicket at Forest side at around 12.10pm with Upminster 17-1 after the early loss of Pulkit Gupta, and he walked back off three and a half hours later having faced 145 balls and struck 40 fours and eight maximums. The previous highest individual score recorded by an Upminster player was the 231 made by legendary Australian, Lorne Sprigg, on the last day of the 2004 season, but JJ raced past that number and for a while even threatened to get to a treble hundred before settling for 278!! With Gus Philpot keeping up his good form with 74 from 67 balls and Adam Wheater and Kiran Kullar also making good contributions, Upminster were able to pile up a massive 456-8 from their 50 overs. While Chingford were never likely to chase down their huge target they did make an excellent start to their reply with Joe Byrnes and Narzm Mohammed taking their side to 85-0 before Shafiq Rahman produced a remarkable performance of his own. Veteran Rahman claimed a brilliant hattrick, on his way to figures of 4-31, and although Byrnes went on to make 73 three wickets from Smuts and two from Philpot helped bowl out the home side for 206 to give Aaron Beard's side a 250 run win.

The only league loss of an excellent day for the club came at Upminster Park where the 2nd XI lost out to Chelmsford. Upminster's top four all got starts but couldn't go on as Tom Halsey (3-50) helped reduce the home side to 83-5. Vansh Mehra, making his league debut for the club, showed great maturity to keep his head and began to rebuild the innings, and with Jamie Green giving good support the home side recovered somewhat. After Green's departure for 26 Mehra was given further support by John Curtis, and at 204-6 Upminster may have been thinking of a total of around 260, but the final four wickets fell for just 17 runs, including Mehra for 51, as Ollie Peck's side were bowled out for 221. Harry Jacobs claimed 4-32 for Chelmsford. Curtis and Fin Tolan picked up early wickets in the Chelmsford reply before Dan Hagen and Thomas Duxson began to put Chelmsford on top. The pair added 106 for the third wicket and although two quick wickets fell, including Duxson for 48, Hagen remained and continued to pilot his side towards victory. The experienced left-hander ended on 111 not out and with Liam Keaney finishing unbeaten on 34 Chelmsford won by six wickets with nearly 10 overs to spare.

It was business as usual for the 3rd XI who put in an efficient performance to start their league season with a win over West Essex at Coopers. Arun Kullar made 40 for Upminster who had been put into bat by the visitors, but they fell from 72-2 to 114-6 and looked in a spot of bother before being rescued by Michael Pedrick. Pedrick kept his head and calmly compiled an excellent 52 not out, and with good support from Ollie Hinton, Ryan Oakes and veteran Mark D'Cruz Upminster were able to post a total of 205-8. It was then over to Tom Young who after a shaky first few deliveries went on to claim six wickets as West were bowled out for 110 to give Upminster a 95 run win. 

Nathan Brown and George Sheridan were the stars of the show for the 4th XI who began their first season in Division Two for nine years with an impressive win at Hutton. Skipper Matt Ingleson asked Hutton to bat first and he may have been questioning that decision as Daniel Payne and Saidul Islam took the home side to 75-1. When Saidul Islam fell for 47 the game changed however and Brown began to work his way through the middle order. Brown and Fenton Everingham bowled in tandem as Hutton fell to 108-5 and although Simon Thurston and Luke Harris helped them recover somewhat they couldn't stop Brown going on to claim 5-35 as the home side ended on 184-8. Ingleson fell early in his side's reply but Sheridan and Joseph Brooks put Upminster on top with a stand of 90 for the second wicket. Brooks fell for 28 but Sheridan was looking in fine form and was striking the ball nicely as he moved towards three figures. Sheridan's U15 teammate Alfie Taplin gave good support in a stand of 44 during which Sheridan brought up his century, and he went on to finish on a brilliant 119 not out from just 74 balls as Upminster won by six wickets with more than 20 overs to spare.

The 5th XI began their league campaign with an excellent all round performance to see off Leigh on Sea. Aalok Latey (2-18) and Rob Evans (2-17) did the early damage, but it was a real team effort with the ball as all six of Upminster's attack picked up at least one wicket. Kevin Roome then mopped up the tail with 3-36 as Leigh were bowled out for 138 with Grant Moxham's 29 the top score. Stewart Hammond made 28 at the top of the order in the Upminster reply before William Peck and Liam Robertson took the game away from the home side. Peck batted sensibly to make 24 not out while Robertson continued his excellent start to the season with 56 not out as Adam Overton's side cruised to an eight wicket win in less than 20 overs. 

Thomas Brabin made a brilliant hundred for the 6th XI as they made it two wins from two against Brentwood in Mid Essex League Division 9. Brabin's brilliant knock of 115 came from just 75 balls and included 16 fours and four sixes as he took his side towards a big total. There were also good contributions from Dylan Brooks, Jack Butler, Sanjay Narbheram and John French as Upminster piled up 299-9 at Campion with Dev Patel claiming 3-46 for Brentwood. Steve Rutledge made a fast start to the Brentwood reply, making 64 from 37 to give his side some hope, but when he was dismissed by Aadit Latey Upminster took control. Latey went on to claim 2-46 and with Narbheram completing a good day's work with 3-28 Brentwood were restricted to 230-8 as Upminster won by 69 runs.

Patrick Gulvin continued his remarkable start to the season with another century as the 7th XI beat Southend on Sea & EMT in Division 10 of the Mid Essex League. Having made his maiden ton for the club last weekend Gulvin went big again as he struck a brilliant 124 to help his side on their way to a big total. Mark Hortop also contributed 66 and Kayhan Suneel made 40 as Upminster posted 291-6. Southend battled hard to ensure they batted their full allocation but they ended on 165-6 as Upminster won by 126 runs. 

The Friendly XI enjoyed an excellent game with Rayleigh despite a narrow loss. Rayleigh made 147-9 with Rajveer Nahr and Charles Allen-Monaghan picking up two wickets each. Captain Matt Mcarthur made 61 in reply and Cameron Thorogood hit 20 but Upminster were bowled out for 135.