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WEEKEND REVIEW - 15th/16th JUNE

WEEKEND REVIEW - 15th/16th JUNE

Paul Middlemiss16 Jun 2024 - 21:09

Suni stars for Women, but 1s frustrated by weather

The Women's 1st XI marked the first ever Hundred format games to be played at Upminster Park with two fine performances against Hutton on Sunday afternoon.  The two victories catapulted Upminster straight into second place in the Essex Women's Premier League Hundred competition.  Game 1 saw Hutton win the toss and decide to bat first, and they made a solid start thanks to Maddison Griffin and Sophie Wilson.  However, 2-6 from 15 balls for Vicky Waters helped to peg the back visitors, and they eventually ended on 90-5 from their 100 balls.  Upminster fell to 45-4 in reply, but new signing Sunette Viljoen remained, and with the help of Lois Gable took the home side towards victory.  Gable fell for 12 shortly before Viljoen brought up her half century, and the South African star had Holly Minney with her at the end as Upminster won by five wickets with 13 balls to spare. Game 2 followed a remarkably similar pattern for much of its duration, as Griffin and Wilson again started well.  They both fell to Lois Gable who claimed a brilliant 4-12 from her 20 deliveries, with Hutton's innings collapsing quickly.  Molly Morris struck some late boundaries to boost the visitors, but their total of 88-8 looked a little below par.  Viljoen and Paige Roche got the Upminster reply off to a fast start, finding the boundary with regularity and the opening pair were soon cruising towards victory.  Viljoen ended 48 not out from 20 deliveries and Roche was unbeaten on 34 from 23 as Upminster won by ten wickets with more than half of their potential deliveries not needed.

Saturday had been a frustrating afternoon for the 1st XI at Harold Wood Park.  Overnight and lunchtime showers had been kept at bay by the covers, but a spillage as they were removed led to a two hour delay.  With a further inspection about to take place, 30 minutes of monsoon-like rain arrived and the game was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

A brilliant unbeaten century from Harry Jenkins was not enough to secure a victory for the 2nd XI as they were held to a draw by Chingford at Upminster Park.  Gus Siggins made 25 but Upminster were 88-3 when rain hit Upminster Park and the game was reduced by 16 overs.  Jenkins tried making up for lost time when play restarted, finding the boundary with ease on numerous occasions and he brought up three figures with a brilliant maximum over long on.  At the other end John Curtis was striking the ball cleanly and endangering the greenhouses of Stewart Avenue with four huge sixes in one over.  With Jenkins unbeaten on 126 from 89 and Curtis 72 not out from 28 Upminster declared nine overs early on 272-4.  Curtis struck early in the Chingford reply and Siggins also picked up a wicket, but Ibaad Mir and Nihal Noori looked in good form for the visitors and frustrated Upminster.  Mir had made 47 when Josh Lamont took an outstanding catch at long-on off Aki Rahman to deny him a half century, and Lamont himself eventually dismissed Noori for 82, but Chingford secured the draw without to many issues, ending on 193-7.

The 3rd XI's game at Chelmsford was abandoned without a ball being bowled, but the 4th XI picked up a crucial win over South Woodford at Coopers.  Andrew Berry picked up two early wickets for the home side, but Zahib Tahir made 33 for South. He was dismissed by Fenton Everningham and Everingham, Nathan Brown and Joseph Brooks then worked their way through the visitors batting, with South eventually dismissed for 90.  The biggest danger to Upminster then became the weather, but Matt Ingleson (33) and captain Ian Munn made a positive start.  Matt Mccarthy and Will Frost took Upminster to the brink of victory, and although Mccarthy was dismissed just before the finish line, Frost finished 21 not out as Upminster won by seven wickets.

Only six overs of play were possible at Campion before the 5th XI's game against Ilford was washed out, while the 6th XI fell to defeat against Orsett and Thurrock 6s.  Kaleb Forster, Ben Calder and Will Court all passed 30 for Upminster, but Ray Calder's side fell from 92-1 to 125-7, before eventually being bowled out for 153.Joe Farrell and Karim Govani picked up a brace of wickets each as Upminster fought hard in the field, but 36 not out from Troy Slaney saw Orsett to a five wicket win.

The Mid-Essex XI got the worst of the conditions and fell to defeat at Rayleigh 4s.  Mike Larke made a determined 25 not out and Avanish Ajmani made a run a ball unbeaten 29, but Upminster could only total 102-5 from 30 overs.  Ollie Burley was the pick of the Upminster attack on his return to action, but Rayleigh were always in control and won by seven wickets with plenty of time to spare.

There was a first win of the season for the Saturday Friendly XI, as they beat Frenford at Coopers.  A captain's knock of 50 not out from Ian Twine and 38 from Joseph Hibbell helped Upminster to post 156-5.  Frenford were always in the game, with a number of their batters reaching double figures, but two wickets each from Henry Hanlon and Freddie Williams helped to restrict Frenford to 141-8.

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