Upminster captain Wheater gets good first impression

Upminster captain Adam Wheater got a good first impression of his side in their Hamro Foundation Essex League Division One derby win over Gidea Park & Romford.

The former Essex staffer chose to bat after winning the toss and saw Pulkit Gupta (37) and new overseas signing Beau Webster (41) put on 81 for the first wicket.

And James Evans (53) and Muhammad Ahmad (39) shared 84 for the fifth wicket, before Tom Daniels (30) helped lift the total to 256-9, as Shavawn Cunningham (4-49) and Hasitha Nirmal (3-35) had most success for Park.

Ollie Todd (2-32) struck two early blows in reply, but Mahmad Alikhail (59) and captain Jamal Francis (36) took Park to 106-2.

Cunningham then saw a string of partners fall to Ahmad (4-47) and Shafiq Rahaman (2-38) and was left stranded on 56 as Upminster secured a 65-run win.

“It was a good game. Our openers started well, then we had a little collapse including myself, but Mo and Spangles [Evans] batted nicely to get us into a decent position,” said Wheater.

“At drinks I felt 250-260 would be a good score and we just about got there.

“They started well but Shaf and young Mo tightened it up nicely.

“Mo, at 15, to put in that performance very early is an incredible feat and we hope he continues to progress his career.

“For a first go I was pretty pleased, it was a solid performance.”

Having secured their first win in four matches – after two rain-offs – Upminster visit a Shenfield side looking to avoid a third successive loss on Saturday.

Skittled for just 17 at Epping – as Abdulrahim Mulla took 8-8 – they were dismissed for 101 at Harold Wood last weekend and fell to a six-wicket defeat, despite a 3-22 haul from Ollie Castell as Dhruv Talati (32) and Taqi Abbas (30) did most of the work with the bat for the hosts.

But Wheater added: “You can’t read too much into form in club cricket.

“You can be full strength one week or you could have three or four away at weddings and it’s a totally different team.

“We’ve got a lot of bases covered with some options available in the twos as well.

“I’m quite happy with the structure of the team. We’ve got pace and spin options and batting options, those who play and those who whack it.

“You’ve got to concentrate on what you do in your own team and hope it’s good enough for the opposition.”