After their poor batting display against Buckhurst Hill the previous week, the 1st XI put in a good performance at Hutton but eventually fell to a narrow defeat as the 8th wicket partnership from the home side’s James Southgate and Tom Debenham eventually proved to be the difference. Nehal Butt and Billy Wright helped reduce the home side to 75-7 and put Upminster on top, but Southgate and Debenham then rebuilt in spectacular fashion. They put on 116 to haul their side back into the contest, and although John Curtis claimed some late scalps Hutton closed on a competitive 204-9. Considering where they had been the home side would have been delighted with that total, but Tom Daniels then made 34 as Upminster made a solid start, reaching 44-0. Former Upminster man Connor Whetstone, Joseph Parry and Bill Prideaux then turned the game as they ran through Upminster’s middle order to leave Alan Ison’s men 112-7 and looking set for defeat. But Curtis and Butt then produced some 8th wicket heroics of their own. They added 66 while keeping the run rate under control and at 178-8 the game was very much in the balance, but Parry removed Curtis and Whetstone mopped up the tail to hand his side a 19 run win.

The 2nd XI’s march towards promotion continued as they made it nine wins from nine in the first half of the season with victory over Colchester and East Essex at Upminster Park. Upminster batted first in damp conditions but that did not deter Josh Lamont who made 51 from 43 balls to get his side off to a good start. Stu Connor then took up the mantle striking the ball sweetly to keep the scoreboard moving. Connor had struck 10 fours and a six and looked set to reach three figures before he was bowled by James Wallace for 78. Ollie White (37) and Adam Quested (19*) added some late runs before Nicky Ison confidently declared 11 overs early at 230-6. Scott Fisher and Ellis Pickering struck early for Ison’s men as Colchester replied and then the captain produced a remarkable spell as the visitors collapsed. Ison claimed 5-6 from just four overs as Colchester were bowled out for 56. Rahul Viswanath top scored with 19.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the 3rd XI as they drew with Harlow at Coopers. On a tough day for batting, opener Dan Simpson showed great composure and determination to make an excellent half century and help his side towards a competitive total. Akibur Rahman continued his recent good form with more runs in the middle order and a late flurry from Alex Ward helped lift the total to 197-7. Arshad Muhammed (33) helped Harlow make a solid start, but he was removed by Rahman who combined with Rob White to put Upminster on top. Simon Baulcomb showed good resistance with 37 before falling to Rahman but Joe Riddell and Paddy Matthews stood firm as the visitors ended on 166-8. Rahman finished with 5-41 to go with his earlier runs.

Performance of the day, and maybe of the season, came from the 4th XI who toppled Chelmsford 3s at Chelmer Park. It was the home side’s first defeat of the season and opened up the title race once again. 66 from opener Harry Page had put Chelmsford in a strong position but when he fell to Ant Limn the game changed. Veteran spinner Kevin Roome produced a brilliant spell, claiming 6-40 from 15 overs, and along with fellow spinner Limn turned the game Upminster’s way as Chelmford were dismissed for 164. Against a side like Chelmsford that was never going to be an easy chase, but Steve Limn (48) and captain Ian Munn got Upminster off to a solid start. Adam Derham removed Limn (Steve) though and picked up quick wickets to leave Upminster 104-6 and at that stage Chelmsford were probably favourites. Stewart Hammond dug in and found a willing partner in Max Gordon. Gordon made a breezy unbeaten 37 and with Hammond standing firm at the other end (25*) Upminster claimed a brilliant victory by four wickets with three balls to spare. The win sees Upminster return to third place in the table, level on points with second placed Frenford and 13 points behind Chelmsford.

The 5th XI lost out in their top of the table clash with Walthamstow at Campion. Alex Bottoms was making his 100th appearance for the 5s but could do nothing to stop the home side stumbling to 128-9 from their 45 overs in what appeared to be difficult batting conditions. Stow had no such problems though when they came to bat, racing to their target in less than 19 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

There was an excellent all round performance from the 6th XI against Hutton 5s at picturesque Mountnessing as Ray Calder’s men made it back to back league wins for the first time in many years. Shrey Shah, Jai Mayor and Joshan Narbheram all bowled well as Hutton struggled early on and Craig Groate then mopped up the lower middle order with 4-20 as the home side were rolled out for 111. Matthew Ingleson (35) and captain Calder (51) put on 83 for the second wicket before Ian Twine and Nathan French calmly guided their side to a seven wicket success.

Once again the awful Sunday morning weather wiped out both the entire day’s Windmill Whack programme and all of the day’s scheduled colts matches.