A youthful 1st XI was forced to settle for a draw in their Division One clash at Epping. Epping opener Imrul Kayes made a brilliant 118 for the home side to put his team into a very strong position as they reached 200-3. However, Upminster fought back, with spinners Jeevan Singh (2-55) and Shafiq Rahman (3-59) bringing their side back into the game. Some late hitting from Ali Raza then helped Epping to reach 249-8. JJ Smuts looked in fine form for Upminster, but when he was unfortunately run out for 43 Upminster found themselves 99-4. Callum Berry kept things moving with 36 from 40 as he and Nehal Butt got Upminster back into the game, but when they and Gus Siggins all fell in quick succession Upminster had to call off the chase. A determined 30 not out from Kiran Kullar helped Upminster to close on 189-8 and secure the draw.

An equally youthful 2nd XI suffered a rare home defeat in their contest with Billericay. The recalled Andy Berry produced a brilliant opening spell to take 3-42 to put Upminster on top, and at one stage Ricay’ fell to 141-7. However, some late resistance helped the visitors get back into the game before 4-60 from Joshan Narbheram saw them bowled out for 202. Upminster’s reply did not start well as the top order were blown away to leave the title-chasers at 85-6. Ollie Peck and Zoran Suneel looked to rebuild and when Suneel fell for 38 Narbheram joined Peck as they looked to keep their side in the game. Peck was finding the boundary with regularity and Narbheram was looking in good touch as they took their team to 140-7, but both men then fell in consecutive overs, and when Berry was adjudged LBW Upminster were all out for 153.

A wonderful innings from Sunette Viljoen was not enough to help the 3rd XI to victory, as they drew at Brentwood. 3rd XI stalwart Mark D’Cruz produced his best spell of the season (4-55) as Brentwood slumped to 69-4, but Rob Fryer, Dave Balroop and Gautam Datta rebuilt for the home side. Upminster would still have felt they were on top going into the final few overs, but some late hitting from Paul Degg helped Brentwood lift their score to 254-9. With Viljoen looking in fine form, and captain Dan Simpson (40) and Arun Kullar (30) providing good support, Upminster were in good shape at 182-4, but with the run rate climbing wickets began to fall. Viljoen went on to reach 89, but when the South African fell Upminster were forced to hold on for the draw at 204-8.

A brilliant team performance from the 4th XI saw them record a hard-earned victory over Oakfield Parkonians 3s at Coopers. Captain Ian Munn used a six-man attack as Upminster fielded first, and all of his bowlers did an excellent job. 13-year-old Finley Tolan took 3-52 and there were braces for Ollie Burley, Joseph Brooks and Kevin Roome as Parks were restricted to 191-9. Nikhith Poddutoori top scored with 54 for Parks. Upminster fell to 18-2 in reply, but opener Mit Shah stood firm and combined, with first Matt Mccarthy and then Harry Lawes, to keep Upminster in the game. Shah eventually fell for a well made 59 and at 132-6 the game was very much in the balance. Brooks and Burley then combined in a crucial seventh wicket stand which tilted the game in Upminster’s favour. Burley made 23 in a stand of 44, and although Upminster had a couple of further wobbles Brooks remained to the end, making a brilliant 41 not out as Upminster won by two wickets.

The 5th XI lost ground in the promotion race as they lost at Frenford in a remarkable game. Matt Ingleson made 50 and Ryan Brown made an unbeaten 41 as Aalok Latey’s side posted what looked like a competitive total of 169-7. However, that score was soon put into perspective by Frenford openers Khurram Darr and Rohit Puthawala. The pair chased down the Upminster total in less than 28 overs, without losing a wicket, as Darr finished on 58 not out and Puthawala ended unbeaten on 95.

Despite being held to a draw, the 6th XI continued their recent improved form against Billericay at Campion. The star of the show was Nathan French, who on his return to action struck a brilliant 130 from just 107 balls, a knock which included 10 fours and 7 maximums. Ben Carson and Mayur Patel picked up three wickets each for Billericay, but 31 from Will Court meant Upminster were able to post 240 as they were bowled out from the final ball of their innings. Harry Coles struck in the first over of the Billericay reply, but Clarke and Mayur Patel rebuilt in some style. Clarke fell for 38 but Jayesh Patel and joined Mayur Patel and they looked to be taking their side to victory. Both men though were removed by Coles, Jayesh for 52 and Mayur for 84, and the loss of both players slowed down the visitors’ march to the finish line as they ended up finishing on 228-6.

A brilliant eight wicket win saw the Mid-Essex XI move out of the relegation zone in Division Nine of the T-Rippon League. Skipper Craig Grote won the toss, and having asked Rayleigh Fairview to bat, he would have been pleased to see pace bowler Sanjay Narbheram strike with the first ball of his spell. Narbheram went on to claim 2-34 and with Thomas Waters also picking up an early wicket Upminster were on top from early on. Mitch Warby and Tom Webster led a recovery for Fairview but the introduction into the attack of veteran Mike Larke helped put Upminster back on top. In a fine spell of left arm seam bowling, reminiscent of Mark Ilott in the mid-90s, Larke picked up 3-12 and it was then left to the spin-twins, Lewis Munn and Dylan Narbheram (2-1) to swiftly mop up the tail as Fairview were dismissed for 89. George Sheridan and Freddie Williams gave Upminster a solid start, and when they fell Joe Hibell and the evergreen Paul Burley went on the attack. Burley produced shots all-round the ground as he made 32 from 34 balls, while Hibell showed his power by striking a number of straight drives including one straight into Broxhill Road. Burley fell with just two runs needed, and this gave skipper Grote the honour of striking the winning runs, while Hibell ended 26 not out (from just 15 balls).

Sunday saw the Matchplay side secure their place in the knockout stages of the competition with a win at Billericay. Upminster, looking to make the final for the first time in 17 years, knew they needed to win and try to increase their net run rate to hold off Springfield (who started the day on the same number of points in Group 3). Upminster’s attack of Joshan Narbheram, Stan Moore, Mo Ahmad, Ollie Burley and Joseph Brooks kept Billericay under pressure from ball one, and all five bowlers picked up a wicket, with Ahmad claiming 4-14, as the home side were bowled out for 64. Upminster were then determined to reach their target as quickly as possible, and Ahmad (52*) wasted no time, racing to his half century from just 23 balls. Moore gave solid support to finish unbeaten on 11 as Upminster won by ten wickets from just 35 balls to secure their place in the next stage.

The Windmill Whack Women’s Edition continued at Upminster Park in the afternoon. The Apple Finance Phoenix overcame the Tolan T-Birds in the early game, before the Burley Bandits held off the Mullis and Peake Magic to win the following contest.