It was an excellent afternoon for the Women's 1st XI who put in their best all round performance of the season to overcome Colchester and East Essex at Castle Park. The win puts Upminster within striking distance of their opponents in the Division 1 table.

Colchester's skipper won the toss and decided to bat first, but it was Upminster's captain Zoe Quested celebrating in the very first over as she dismissed Megan Kelland without scoring. Danni Cox picked up the second wicket when sister Jami Armes took the catch to send back Emily Eves and Keya Shah then had the dangerous Akanksha Sharma caught at the wicket for 22. That 22 turned out to be the top score of the innings as Lois Gable then worked her way through the middle order. Five other batters reached double figures, but no others went beyond 20 as Gable picked up 4-36 to put Upminster on top. Harriet Goodey then mopped up the tail with two quick wickets as the home side were bowled out for 145.

Upminster may have been a little nervous about the chase after recent results, but Goodey and Paige Roche soon eased those nerves with an excellent opening stand of 66 in 12 overs. Roche fell for 30 and Keya Shah followed soon after as Upminster wobbled, before Felicity Russell joined Goodey to move Upminster towards their target. When Russell fell for 20 the finish line was in sight and Goodey brought up her half century with Gable providing support at the other end. Goodey ended up 55 not out and Gable was unbeaten on 19 as Upminster won by seven wickets with more than ten overs to spare.

The Sunday League XI's title hopes were ended as they lost at Goresbrook. Goresbrook won the toss and decided to bowl first and they broke through in the first over as Ted Ivory sent back Kiran Kullar without scoring. However, the in form Mo Ahmad and number three Zoran Suneel steadied the ship and soon began to accelerate. Both players reached their fifties and then went beyond as Upminster eyed a big score. Suneel fell agonisingly short of three figures as he was dismissed for 96, with the partnership having added 184, before Ahmad then brought up his century to continue his remarkable season. Jamie Green added a breezy 26 and with Ahmad finishing on 125 not out, Upminster closed on 248-4. Finley Tolan picked up an early wicket for Upminster as the chase began, but Lee Jones and Jordan Calverley then put their side on top with a superb second wicket partnership. The pair added 140 before Avanish Ajmani bowled Calverley for 76 and the left arm seamer repeated the trick a few balls later to dismiss dangerman Shane Barwick and give Upminster hope. Jones remained though, and although Jamie Green picked up a fourth wicket for Upminster, Ivory then joined Jones in what turned out to be the match winning partnership. The unbroken fifth wicket stand was worth 77 as Jones ended 87 not out and Ivory 47 not out as the home side won by six wickets with more than three overs to spare.

The Women's Softball Team enjoyed an excellent afternoon at the Grace Payne Memorial Day, hosted by Brentwood at the De Rougemont Cricket Ground. The event takes place each year in memory of Grace, who tragically passed away in 2022, and it is a great day for our side to take part in. The Upminster side picked up the winners trophy this time out and everyone involved had a great day.