It was a brilliant Saturday afternoon for the club, one of the best of the season, with five wins in total and thrilling performances from the 1st and 2nd XIs.

When the 1st XI fell to 43-6 and 85-7 batting first against Gidea Park & Romford at Gallows Corner, few would have expected what the eventual result ended up being around four and half hours later. JJ Smuts (21) and Callum Berry (26) were the only batters to have made any impression at that stage as Park all-rounder Shavawn Cunningham (5-80) ripped through Upminster’s top order. However, Ian Russell and Nehal Butt clearly weren’t wanting an early finish and set about rebuilding the innings. By the time Russell (82) became Cunningham’s fifth victim the Upminster pair had added 140 in a remarkable eighth wicket partnership and put their side in control. Shafiq Rahman joined Butt and it looked like Butt would reach a deserved century before he was out in the final over of the innings for a brilliant 97 from 85 balls, but with Rahman making 25 Upminster had somehow made it to 270.

Butt was clearly feeling confident as he took the new ball at the start of the Park innings and picked up two early wickets to leave the home side 28-2, but Sami Ullah and Hasibul Hoq dug in with a determined third wicket stand. Smuts removed Hoq for 22 and Rahman dismissed Ullah for 35 as Upminster ramped up the pressure, but Park reached three figures without any further damage. However, from 102-4 Park quickly collapsed against the spin duo of Rahman and Smuts. Smuts claimed 3-47 while Rahman picked up a brilliant 5-17 as the home side fell to 126 all out to give Upminster the win and 25 points.

There was a much needed win for the 2nd XI at Upminster Park as they overcame Epping in a thrilling contest. On a roasting hot afternoon the visitors elected to bat first and they made full use of the conditions as all of their top five made good contributions. Hazrat Ali (54) and Toufik Billah (63) both made half centuries to help Epping into a strong position before two wickets for Ollie Peck helped drag Upminster back into the game. There were also wickets for Scott Simmons, Vansh Mehra and Jamie Green but Epping were able to reach a challenging total of 275-5. Harry Jenkins made 31 at the top of the Upminster order before a fine third wicket stand between Gus Siggins and Mehra began to put Upminster on top. The pair took Upminster to 163-2 before Mehra was run out for 45, and when the in-form Siggins was stumped soon after for an excellent 60 the game was back in the balance. Alan Ison was looking in good form and although wickets were falling around him while Ison was at the crease Upminster always looked in control. At 232-7 the home side required 44 from the final five overs, and Ison then put his foot down as he cleared the ropes on more than one occasion to keep the required run rate under control. Jamie Green (15*) kept his head and kept Ison company as the home side reduced the equation to 14 from two overs. Ison wasn’t wanting to hang around though and took just four balls of the penultimate over to get things done, finishing 63 not out as Upminster won by three wickets.

Result of the day came at Chelmer Park as a young 3rd XI toppled leaders Chelmsford to end the day top of the table themselves. Skipper Dan Simpson won the toss and asked Chelmsford to bat first, and he will have been thrilled with the performance of his attack. Spinner Joseph Brooks led the way with 4-49 while Fin Tolan grabbed 3-19 in a fine ten over spell. Ryan Oakes and Dylan Narbheram also bowled with great discipline, and although Ben Lawrence made 38 for the home side they were bowled out for 140. Simpson and George Sheridan made a solid start to the Upminster reply before Zoran Suneel and Arun Kullar really took the game away from the home side. They added 78 for the third wicket before Kullar fell for 42 but Suneel was there at the end and finished 42 not out as Upminster cruised to a seven wicket win.

A thrilling game at Coopers ended with the 4th XI claiming a draw against Old Southendians. The contest between the top two in the division always looked like being a closely fought contest and that is exactly how it turned out as the scores finished level after seven hours of cricket. Southendians decided to bat first and openers Sandeep Muraleedharan (38) and Vijayakrishnan Valalveettil (55) made a solid start before the introduction into the attack of the Upminster spinners began to turn things around. Nathan Brown dismissed both openers and also sent back Ryan Davies first ball before Lewis Munn and Rob Mack picked up further wickets in the middle order. Brown was enjoying a fine afternoon and continued to pick up wickets on his way to figures of 5-98, but the visitors batting showed great resilience and depth as they closed on 258-8. Steve Limn (38) and Ethan Berry (31) continued their fine form as an opening pair to get Upminster off to a good start in reply, and captain Matt Ingleson added 35. Rob Mack played a lead role in the middle order once more and put together good partnerships with Stan Moore and Ollie Clarke. Mack reached his half century as Upminster stayed on track, but the required run rate was rising with wickets falling, mainly to Muraleedharan who claimed 4-91. 21 runs were needed from the final two overs, and Mack struck the last ball of the penultimate over for six to leave eleven needed from the last. Mack brought up a fine century in the final over (and ended 100 not out) but despite Daly striking the last ball of the game for a maximum to level the scores Upminster closed on 258-7 meaning both sides had to settle for a draw, and they move level on points with one another at the top of the table.

The 5th XI stayed in the promotion hunt with a comprehensive win at Orsett & Thurrock. Upminster decided to bowl first, and Harry Bradford led the way with the ball as he picked up 3-27 to put his side on top. There were also two wickets apiece for Rob Evans, Anay Narbheram and Ryan Brown, and although Troy Slaney made 30 for the home side they were bowled out for 104. William Peck and Ian Munn made a good start to the reply before Munn fell for 19 and Peck was then joined by Matt Mccarthy as Upminster moved towards victory. Peck made an accomplished 45 not out and Mccarthy ended 32 not out as Upminster won by nine wickets.

Kayhan Suneel and Alfie Taplin were in fine form with the bat against Basildon & Pitsea as the 6th XI stayed in the promotion hunt in Mid Essex League Division Nine. Suneel and Taplin combined in a brilliant second wicket partnership of 157 after Mark Hortop had fallen early on. Taplin blasted 92 from 85 balls before Will Court then joined Suneel in a third wicket partnership worth 99 with Suneel eventually being run out for an excellent 93. Court went on to finish 61 not out as Upminster piled up 274-3 at Campion. Basildon lost early wickets before Devesh Lalwani made 60 to get his side back in the game. Upminster kept taking wickets though with Sanjay Narbheram and Oscar Hayes claiming a brace each as Basildon were restricted to 217-7 meaning Upminster won by 57 runs.

The 7th XI put in an excellent performance against Horndon on the Hill in Mid Essex League Division Ten before eventually losing to the league leaders. Youngsters Billy Sheridan (31), Harrison Simpson (28) and Max Bird (30) were all in the runs, as was veteran Ian Twine (38) as Upminster moved towards a challenging total. The stage was then set for Ralph Moore to take the score beyond 200 with a fine half century. Moore made 54 from 33 balls as his side were eventually bowled out for 227. Jack Butler picked up an early wicket in the Horndon reply but Nahas Salahudin was in fine form for the home side and moved the total along quickly. Moore continued his good afternoon by claiming a wicket and Chris Brabin claimed two victims as Upminster kept fighting but they couldn’t dismiss Salahudin. The home opener ended unbeaten on 108 and despite Upminster’s best efforts Horndon won by six wickets.

The Friendly XI lost out in their latest game at Herongate. Henry Hanlon and Eddie Waters claimed two wickets each in the Herongate innings while Charles Allen-Monaghan took two excellent catches in the field. Upminster never got going in their reply and despite a half century from Hanlon it was Herongate who took the victory.