The U19s brilliant run in the Ravi Bopara Trophy came to an end in the semi finals at Garon Park.  Despite posting what looked like a competitive total of 173 Upminster were then blown away by Max Sanderson who struck a brilliant century to take his Bishop's Stortford side to victory.  Upminster were asked to bat first by Stortford and lost Mit Shah in the first over, but Callum Berry and Mo Ahmad got their side back on track.  Berry had struck a century on the same ground in Monday's quarter final win over Old Southendians, and he looked in fine form once more as he hit three maximums to get the scoreboard moving.  He had reached 32 when he was adjudged LBW and Gus Philpot then added 19 before he fell to Matthew Fisk.  When Ahmad then fell for 26 and Nathan French and Rob Helay followed soon after it looked like Upminster may well be in a bit of trouble at 102-6, but Ross Taylor and Jamie Green quickly turned things around with a partnership of 53.  Green went for 22 and Taylor fell for 39 as Stortford looked like they may bowl Upminster out early, but Ollie Burley and Joshan Narbheram took the innings to the very last ball before Burley was out to a wonderful catch from keeper Henry Hawkins.

Burley gained revenge at the start of the Stortford reply as he trapped Hawkins in front second ball for nought, and for the first three overs of the reply it was Upminster who looked in control.  However, Sanderson then began to cut loose, crunching the ball down the ground for a number of maximums and pouncing quickly on to anything short.  Will Dommett gave good support as Stortford brought down the required run rate, but it was Sanderson doing the real damage as Upminster struggled to contain him.  Sanderson reached his century from just 43 balls, but was out in the very next over thanks to a brilliant catch at long on from Rob Healy, who narrowly avoided a nasty collision with Philpot in the process.  By that stage Stortford were nearly home and dry, but Burley bowled Dommett for 39 and Joshan Narbheram took an excellent caught and bowled to dismiss James Frans.  However, Austin Osborne and Oliver Mitchell soon saw their side to a six wicket win with more than three overs to spare.  Stortford went on to win the final against Shenfield by 31 runs, and we congratulate them on a thoroughly deserved success.

Kiran Kullar completed a memorable weekend for himself as he struck a brilliant 152 to follow up on his marvellous century the previous day at Gallows Corner.  Kullar's knock, which came from just 124 balls, helped his side to a  thrilling and closely fought win over Roding Valley which keeps alive Upminster's hopes of reaching the end of season play-offs.  Kullar and Zoran Suneel shared a huge second wicket stand of 222 in 32 overs to help Upminster set a huge target at Upminster Park.  Suneel fell for 89 and Nehal Butt added a late 16 not out from just 8 balls as the home side ended their 40 overs on 306-6.  Valley made a positive start to their reply and were up with the required rate for much of the first half of the innings before the spin duo of Kevin Roome and Nathan Brown made inroads into the batting.  Brown removed dangerman Hasan for 81 to put Upminster in control and at 185-6 it looked like Upminster would close out a comfortable win, but Emdadul Hoque and Adnan Miah had other ideas.  The pair added 79 in just 7 overs and with five overs of the game it looked like they may snatch an unlikely victory.  However, George Sheridan was brought into the attack and immediately dismissed Hoque for 42 (from just 30 deliveries), and Sheridan was involved again in the next over when two wickets fell, Sheridan running out Moah for 32 and Max Carter Miller then dismissing Niaz Choudhury next ball to put Upminster on the brink of victory.  Valley's last pair needed 35 for victory but Mifta Islam and Mahbub Khan reduced the equation to just ten runs needed from the last over.  Sheridan showed his maturity and skill to step up and bowl the last over, and from the second ball claimed the final wicket thanks to a catch from his U14 team mate Lewis Munn, to give Upminster a brilliant eight run win.