Three wins from three on the second day of the Women's European Cricket Series was not quite enough for Upminster to clinch the title, as they were pipped on run rate by Gunnersbury despite picking up two wins over the eventual champions.

The first day (last Saturday) of the women's T10 event had been severely disrupted by bad weather, but the second day had no such problems, and Upminster got their morning off to a winning start when they took on familiar faces Hutton. The Upminster bowling unit performed superbly with Lois Gable going for just nine runs in her two overs, and Paige Roche claiming two wickets in hers, meaning Hutton were restricted to 89-4 in their 10 overs. That total looked a little under par, and so it proved as Sunette Viljoen-Louw (47* from 15) and Roche (27* from 11) took Upminster to a nine wicket win within six overs.

Gunnersbury had beaten Upminster on the previous weekend, but the afternoon contest between the two sides went very differently this time. Zoe Quested, Lauren Plumb and Gable all picked up two wickets each, and although Shimako Kato and Carolin Bolton added some late runs for Gunnersbury, Upminster will have been happy to restrict their opponents to 103-9. Gunnersbury took wickets throughout the Upminster chase, but they couldn't remove Viljoen-Louw!!! She made a brilliant 87 not out from 39 balls to see Upminster to a six wicket win with just three balls to spare.

It all meant that the final game of the competition, between the same two sides, would decide the outcome of the whole competition. Gunnersbury held a clear advantage both in terms of points and net run rate going into the game, and 73 from Esther De Lange helped them to post a challenging 122-4, despite Plumb picking up another two wickets. Upminster knew they would need to win the game and do so in miraculous time, but Viljoen-Louw came out and blasted the ball to all parts of Harrow Lodge Park. The South African star made 100 not out, from just 34 deliveries, as Upminster won with an over to spare. Unfortunately they could just not overhaul Gunnersbury's net run rate across the competition, and so missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins. Last weekend's abandoned games ultimately proved costly, and would like to congratulate Gunnersbury on their success.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Hornchurch CC and the European Cricket Network for hosting this event and inviting our women's side along to take part. Everyone involved with the squad thoroughly enjoyed the occasion on both weekends and was thrilled to be able to showcase the women's game and women's cricket at Upminster.

The men's event also saw a number of Upminster players in action, as they helped make up the Havering squad who took part in the competition. Across three days the Havering squad played six games, and while it was tough going for the first couple of days, they finished the competition with two wins. Highlights from an Upminster perspective were a century in one of those victories from Callum Berry and a number of appearances, on the pitch and in the commentary box, from our very own Kroooooooommmeeee.

The men's event was won by Sharks Cricket Academy who included former Upminster man Shahbaz Butt in their side. Congratulations to Sharks and also to Hornchurch for hosting a brilliant festival of cricket over two weeks.