After thrilling finishes in five of Saturday’s games, there were two further “edge of the seat” encounters on Sunday, one at Coopers and one at Upminster Park, alongside a more clear-cut result at Wanstead.

At Nutter Lane, the Women’s 1st XI were asked to field first by the home side, and Lois Gable picked up two early wickets to leave Wanstead in trouble at 22-2. A third wicket stand of 123 between Millie Rawlins and Nehal Dave brought the home side back into the game before Coco Thomas bowled Dave for 45. Saba Nasim joined Rawlins and they continued to move their side towards a big score. Rawlins was now timing the ball well and finding the boundary regularly, and she soon reached three figures as Wanstead raced past the 200 mark. Keya Shah dismissed Nasim for 36 and Rawlins was out to the final ball of the innings for 120 as the home side closed on 255-4. Upminster’s reply did not get off to a good start as Nehal Dave backed up her performance with the bat with three early wickets as the visitors fell to 60-5, despite an excellent 37 from the in-form Felicity Russell. Coco Thomas (20) and captain Zoe Quested (28) dug in with a partnership of 49, but when they fell there was a further tumble of wickets as Upminster were bowled out for 120.

The Women’s 2nd XI came within a whisker of picking up their first win of the season against Orsett and Thurrock at Coopers. Only Holly Minney reached double figures in the Upminster top six as Orsett took control, but Jemma Creswell and captain Angela Green helped lead the recovery. Creswell fell for 23 but Green then received good support from Maisie Coles, and the two put on 36 for the ninth wicket. Green ended on an unbeaten 30 and Upminster posted an under par but competitive 118. Green and Lauren Plumb then struck twice each to reduce Orsett to 19-4 and although they recovered to some extent, a further wicket each for the captain and vice-captain left the visitors 66-6. However, amongst the chaos Orsett opener Eliza Winckless stood firm and she soon brought up her half century as the game remained in the balance. Coles picked up two wickets for Upminster to tilt things their way once more, and when the ninth wicket fell five more runs were still required, but Winckless held her nerve, seeing her side to a one wicket win with seven balls remaining, and ending on 67 not out.

There was a second win in succession for the Sunday League XI, as they overcame Neo Club in another thriller at Upminster Park. Michael Pedrick continued his good start to the season with some runs at the top of the order, and captain Callum Berry made a quickfire 23, but Upminster looked in trouble at 93-7. Alfie Taplin and Ollie Clarke, U14 and U15 respectively, put on a valuable 27 before Taplin fell for 15 and then Clarke and Jamie Green added more important runs and Henry Hanlon then kept Clarke company as they took Upminster past the 150 mark. Clarke was eventually out for an excellent 37 as the home side posted 157. Gus Philpot (4-32) ripped through the Neo top order as the visitors slumped to 40-5 before Shah Ali Mridul and Showan Mitra put on 78 and looked to be taking their side to victory. Henry Hanlon dismissed Mridul for 28 and Mitra was then out to Callum Berry for 51 as Upminster came back, and the same two bowlers picked up another wicket each as the visitors fell to 141-9. Neo’s last wicket pair looked to be inching their to victory before Jamie Green bowled the last batter to spark wild celebrations as Upminster won by five runs.