After a three year absence, the Benefit Match returned to Upminster Park on Sunday. The day celebrated all aspects of both Upminster and Essex cricket, and was backed once more by huge support from the Upminster public.

MINIS TRAINING
Aaron Beard, Adam Wheater and other coaches from the Club Cricket Academy were on the ground early to put our U5, U6 and U7 girls and boys through their paces with a special end of season training session on the outfield. It was great to see how much our youngest players have learned during the summer, and great to see how much they all enjoy their cricket.

WINDMILL WHACK WOMEN'S FINAL
After four months of action it was the finale to the third edition of the Windmill Whack Women's Edition. The Chairman's Chiefs took on the Apple Financial Phoenix in what turned out to be a tense affair. For much of the game the Chiefs were on top, but holders Phoenix were not going to surrender their crown easily, and fought back. However, the final Chiefs' batting pair did enough to get their side over the line, as they saw their team to a 19 run win. Aaron Beard and Essex Ladies Skipper Kelly Castle presented the trophy to winning captain Charlotte Peck.

GIRLS SOFTBALL MATCH
At the same time as the Whack Final, our U13 and U14 girls were doing battle on the other side of the ground. Keya Shah was in the runs for the U13s, but Lois Gable and Sadie Wyatt were in fine form as the U14s tried to chase down their target. It was left to skipper Bella Marshall to hit the winning runs for the U14s. The game showed how much progress our girls sides have made this season, and after the game our U12 and U13 girls were presented with the trophies they have won this year by Aaron Beard and Kelly Castle.

U13 AND U15 NET SESSIONS
After hugely successful seasons our U13 and U15 boys squads were able to enjoy an end of season net session with Aaron Beard, Adam Wheater, Head Coach Scott Simmons and other coaches from the Club Cricket Academy. Our U13s were runners-up in the Central Cup this season, while our U15s reached the Finals of the Cox and Kings Trophy and the Central Cup, and they were re-presented with their runners-up trophies from these competitions by Essex and England star Dan Lawrence.

U11 GAME V HAVERING LEAGUE SIDE
Our U11s had picked up two trophies this season, and they warmed up the now growing crowd by taking on a Havering League XI on the main square before the Big Game. Players from Hornchurch, Rainham and Gidea Park and Romford were in action for the Havering League side and the game turned out to be an excellent contest. Upminster were left needing 12 from the final over to win, but the Havering side held their nerve to clinch victory. Meanwhile on the far-side of the ground a three team softball competition took place for our U11s squad, with the Brookdale Avenue boundary being peppered throughout proceedings.

UCC v ESSEX CCC XI - FIRST INNINGS

Essex skipper Nick Browne won the toss and chose to bat on an excellent Upminster Park wicket. Crowd favourite Aaron Beard was dismissed by Nehal Butt for 11, but Jamie Porter looked in good form as he made 64 from 35 before falling to Billy Wright. England star Dan Lawrence made 46 before falling to youngster Harry Bradford who will have a tale to tell at school on Tuesday morning. Robin Das entertained the crowd, and scattered those in front of the beer tent, with 76, but was then stumped by Kiran Kullar off of Ian Munn. Essex eventually closed on 225-4 from their 20 overs.

TEA INTERVAL
As the players left the field, around 60 of our U8s and U9s rushed on to the ground to showcase their skills in a series of softball games. This squad had picked up four trophies and two runners up medals during 2022, and the large crowd would have been impressed by the level of play from those involved. Meanwhile in front of the Pavilion a number of our older junior players received their Jack Petchey Foundation awards to recognise their on and off pitch efforts over the last 12 months.

UCC v ESSEX CCC XI - SECOND INNINGS
With the crowd now around the four figure mark Kiran Kullar got Upminster off to a good start but fell to ex-Essex star Joe Grant, who was then soon entertaining the crowd on the boundary with his dance moves!! Essex Ladies star Tilly Gallaghan picked up a wicket and bowled an excellent spell, but Oliver White and Tom Daniels kept Upminster in the hunt. White fell to Benny Fryatt of the Essex Ability side for 29, but Daniels soon brought up his half century before striking a huge maximum into the queue for the public conveniences!! Daniels eventually fell to Essex Ability star Issac Elles for a brilliant 85, but Ian Munn, Sam Twine and James Evans made double figures to leave Upminster needing 24 from the final over. Nehal Butt struck Grace Poole's first ball over long on for six, but the Essex Ladies bowler kept her nerve to see Essex to an 11 run win.

PRESENTATIONS
Following the game, Upminster President David Parish thanked everyone involved in the day for their work, as well as thanking both teams for providing the large crowd with such great entertainment. He concluded by thanking the Upminster Public for once again coming along to support the occasion. Keith Brown of the Essex Cricket Foundation then accepted a cheque from the club which was presented to him by the club's main sponsor, Hunter & Co.