Catches win matches as they say and that certainly proved to be the case in this exciting tussle.

Batting first, Upminster lost their opening three wickets for just four runs when M Rath walked to the crease.

He was carelessly dropped when he had yet to score and made the most of the missed opportunity as he went onto score a huge 161 not out as Upminster, who suffered a shock reverse at Stanford last week, finished on 253-4.

In reply, Leigh bravely went about reaching the required runs -- with Dean Waller (63), Stuart Elliott (51) and Simon Burch (45) the highest scorers as Leigh were dismissed in the final over the match -- just 12 runs short of victory.

Skipper Simon Burch admitted he was pleased with his side's display but agreed Leigh were left ruing dropping Rath.

"It obviously had a massive bearing on the result of the match," he said.

Published Monday August 9, 2004

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