The Women's 2nd XI put in a fine all round performance to pick up a crucial win at High Roding.  The two sides started the day fifth and sixth in the seven team table, and they finished the day in those two positions, but with Upminster having leapfrogged their hosts.  Abbie Camp (3-19) had Upminster in early trouble, but Emma Noller dug in and shared valuable stands with Lauren Plumb and Karen Burley.  Noller fell for 32 before captain Angela Green made 29 to help Upminster towards the 150 mark.  Maisie Coles and Amelia Davies put together a valuable seventh wicket stand and when Davies fell Eadi French joined Coles and added some crucial late runs. Coles ended on 26 not out and French on an unbeaten 15 from just 11 balls as Upminster ended on 176-7 from their 30 overs.  Priya Somani picked up an early wicket at the start of the Roding reply before Florence and Siena Bishop added 33 for the second wicket.  Captain Green broke that partnership and Claudia Brunt soon picked up a wicket to put Upminster on top.  Camp followed up her earlier wickets with 22 before being sent back by Jami Armes and Lauren Plumb picked up two quick wickets as Upminster closed in on victory.  Roding never gave up the fight but they were eventually bowled out for 139 to give Upminster a 37 run win.  Upminster face another important encounter next week when they take on Hutton at Coopers.

A masterful 155 not out from captain Nehal Butt gave the Sunday League XI an important win and kept them in contention for the Essex Sunday League title.  Butt's 102 ball innings helped his side pile up a huge total at Upminster Park which proved too much for visitors Scintilla.  Having won the toss and decided to bat, the home side found themselves in early trouble as they fell to 6-2.  Butt and Zoran Suneel didn't panic though and soon had their side back in the game.  They added 149 for the third wicket, at better than a run a ball, before Suneel fell for 74 from 59 deliveries.  Butt was nearing his century by now and received good support from Liam Robertson who contributed 37.  Butt soon brought up three figures and once he had gone past that milestone he put his foot down even more and peppered the boundaries.  Michael Pedrick made 27 and although Upminster lost a cluster of wickets in their pursuit of late runs they ended their 40 overs on 317-5.  That target was always going to be a tough ask for Scintilla, and Shrey Shah picked up some early wickets to put Upminster in further control.  Mo Ahmad and Pedrick ran through the Scintilla middle order before Lewis Munn finished the weekend in style with three wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 163.

There were a number of junior games throughout the day, and the undoubted highlight came in the afternoon contest at Coopers where an unbeaten century from William Peck took the U12 Ultras into the semi finals of the Brian Taylor Trophy for the second time in three seasons.  Opponents South Woodford had made what looked to be a competitive 171-9 from their 30 overs despite 4-21 from Stefan Stander, before Peck took control of the Upminster reply.  He made 104 not out from just 79 balls, and brought up his ton with a towering six over mid wicket as Upminster won by seven wickets.  There were also wins for the U10 Ultras and U10 Girls but losses for the U13 Ultimates, the U11 Ultras, the U8 Ultras and the U9 Ultimates.  Our U7s also took part in a brilliant festival at Brentwood and we thank everyone at Brentwood CC for organising such a great event.