Upminster's 1st XI will return to the Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division for the first time in 10 years after sealing promotion at Woodford Wells yesterday. Their victory, along with results elsewhere, saw them confirm their elevation for 2027 and leaves them just a point away from sealing the title. Having finished third in 2024 and 2025, losing just one game in 2024, Aaron Beard's side have been ruthless and efficient this season, getting over the line for promotion with two games to spare. At Monkhams Lane, Upminster asked Wells to bat upon winning the toss and the home side made a solid start through Nicholas Brothers and George Wells. However, two wickets in an over from JJ Smuts opened up the game and Vansh Mehra then also struck twice in quick succession, one of his victims being the key one of Brothers for 35. Shafiq Rahman then bowled Heath Richards and at that stage Wells were 68-5 and an early finish looked likely but Harry Douris and captain Gareth James rebuilt using very contrasting methods. Douris dug in to make 40 from 70 balls before falling to Smuts while James smashed 43 from 35 deliveries before Rahman had him caught by Pulkit Gupta. Jamie Green came back into the attack to pick up two late wickets and although Deven Solanki made a defiant 31 Wells were bowled out for 196. 

Kiran Kullar fell to James in the first over of the Upminster reply before Gupta and Smuts calmed any nerves with a second wicket stand of 80 in less than eight overs. That partnership was dominated by Smuts who made 51 from just 27 balls before falling to Richards and when James bowled Gus Philpot Upminster were having a slight wobble at 94-3. Gupta kept his head though and Adam Wheater made an entertaining 39 in a stand of 46 with the opener. After Wheater had fallen captain Beard made 11 as his side neared the winning line but he and Nehal Butt both fell with the score on 170 to give Wells late hope. Gupta (72*) however was in fine form and brought up a half century, whilst youngster Mehra provided good support as Upminster won by four wickets with nearly 18 overs to spare. The side then had to wait around 75 minutes for results elsewhere to confirm their promotion and they will now hope to complete their season in style with wins in their final two games.

The 2nd XI fell to a heavy defeat against Hutton at Upminster Park. Hutton asked Upminster to bat first and good contributions from Harry Jenkins (33) and Gus Siggins (40) as well an excellent half century from Tom Daniels helped the home side get into a good position at 161-4. However, from that point the innings unfolded somewhat with only Rob Healy (26*) and Lewis Munn (16) making any meaningful contributions from the middle and lower order. Henry Hunwick claimed 4-23 for Hutton as Upminster were bowled out for 190 with more than four overs not used by the home side. Hutton opener Ben Parry made an excellent 60 at the top of the order for Hutton, but when he fell the score was 88-3 and the game looked in the balance, However, Oscar Hunwick (36) and Alex Holloway (67*) quickly took their side towards the finish line and although Siggins picked up 2-28 for Upminster, Hutton cruised to a six wicket win with nearly 15 overs to spare.

A brilliant century for Michael Pedrick was not enough to stop the 3rd XI falling to defeat against Wanstead & Snaresbrook, a loss which ended their hopes of claiming the title. Pedrick's innings of 104 not out came from 106 deliveries, and with good contributions from George Sheridan (29), Arun Kullar (30), Joshan Narbheram (34) and Rob Mack (27*) Upminster were able to make 256-5 from their 45 overs. Upminster may have felt that was a good total, but Haaris Saleem and Salman Syed quickly set about proving otherwise. The opening pair put on 103 for the first wicket at better than a run a ball and after Saleem fell for exactly 50 Syed continued and was soon bringing up an excellent century. Syed eventually ended on 135 not out and with George Davies making an unbeaten 44 Wanstead coasted to victory by eight wickets with 11 balls to spare.

Steve Limn and Rob Evans were the heroes for the 4th XI as they secured promotion, and moved to within seven points of the title, with a win at their closest challengers, Old Southendians. Evans produced a brilliant four wicket opening burst to help reduce the home side to 22-5. Southendians rallied through Tom Clarke (34) and Daksh Kumar (26) but Nathan Brown (3-32) mopped up the tail as the home side were bowled out for 133. Limn is so often the man for the big occasion, and that proved to be the case once again as he and WIlliam Peck (18) put on 40 for the first wicket. Limn brought up his half century as Upminster moved towards the winning line, and it was fitting that the experienced opener got to hit the winning runs as he ended on 85 not out whilst Ian Munn ended unbeaten on 26 in a comprehensive nine wicket win. 

Alfie Taplin and Ralph Burchell were the star performers for the 5th XI as they claimed a seven wicket win at Wickford. Wickford decided to bat first but Burchell ripped through the top order on his way to figures of 5-18. Foysal Bapon made 67 to boost the home side but Kevin Roome and Ralph Moore claimed two wickets each as Wickford were bowled out for 213. Bapon picked up three early wickets in the Upminster reply as the visitors fell to 18-3, but Taplin then took control with excellent support from WIll Court. Taplin was in fine form, striking 15 fours and two maximums in a brilliant 105 not out while Court made an excellent 73 not out as the pair put together an unbroken stand of 199 to see their side to a seven wicket with plenty of overs in hand. 

The 6th XI claimed the single point they needed to secure promotion but went on to lose to nearest challengers Hatfield Peverel which means the title race will go to the final weekend of the season. Peverel elected to bat first and at the halfway point of their innings had reached 78-2. However, they were able to accelerate in the second half of the innings with Alan Johnson making 104 not out and Chris Moore striking an unbeaten 84 from 58 deliveries as the visitors climbed to 250-2 from their 40 overs. Aadit Latey (1-33) was the pick of the Upminster attack. Craig Grote, Billy Sheridan (27) and Max Malby (25) put Upminster into a good position at 88-1 in the chase, but from that point they began to lose wickets regularly and that led them to fall behind the required run rate. Latey (22) tried to keep the chase on track and Paul Middlemiss made 45 not out, but with Moore following up his batting heroics with 3-23 and Martin Southwell also taking three wickets Upminster were bowled out for 189. 

There was also a loss for a youthful 7th XI at Rankins. Upminster decided to bat first and 13 year old opener Harrison Simpson continued his excellent season with 54 at the top of the innings. Henry Madsen then made his maiden senior half century with a superb 52 from 50 balls and with George Ashlin (33) and Tinus Stander (34*) also batting well Upminster were able to make a competitive 215-7. Rankins openers Rahman Bhatty and Adam Huggins were in a determined mood in the Rankins reply with the pair putting on 201 for the first wicket to put the game beyond Upminster. Huggins fell to Joshua O'Sullivan for 85 but Bhatty soon brought up his ton, and although he fell for 111, also to O'Sullivan, Rankins cruised to an eight wicket win.