Louis Pickering demonstrated his talent with a stunning 111, but it wasn’t enough to secure a first league win of 2018

Nicky Ison admitted Upminster’s narrow defeat at home to Buckhurst Hill in the Essex League Division One on Saturday was tough to take, but he hailed the display of young all-rounder Louis Pickering.

After the visitors scored 247-7 from their 50 overs, the struggling hosts seemed on course for their first league win of the 2018 campaign at 227-4.

Unfortunately Pickering got out for a stunning 111 and the incoming batsmen couldn’t keep up with the run rate as Upminster finished on 244-7.

Ison said: “It was tough to take. We played alright. We bowled reasonably well and it was a very good pitch.

“Louis batted unbelievable well and it was a chanceless hundred and he hit the spinner for three sixes in a row to get us back on top of the run rate, but when you don’t have the habit of winning games you can find ways to lose it.

“There were a lot of positives for us to take, but at the end of the day we still lost and we are not in a good position.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Louis though, as it was a brilliant hundred and hopefully it is the first of many for him and it will mean he is not on the losing team for much longer.”

Ejaz Khan (2-44), John Curtis (2-48) and Ollie Peck (2-26) impressed with the ball to give Upminster more than a fighting chance at the halfway stage.

Shahbaz Butt’s 42 helped them make a strong start and Nabeel Aziz added 38 at five, but once Pickering saw his 116-ball innings end, the required rate got too much for the lower order and they lost by three runs.

“At halfway we were confident, especially with the short boundary and the outfield so quick and Shabs and Nabeel were going along nicely,” said Ison.

“It was a shame they both couldn’t stick around and I think we needed 27 off 24 when Louis got out.

“We had two new batsmen in at that stage, so it was difficult, but fair play to Buckhurst Hill’s bowlers because they bowled well and got their yorkers in.

“It was gutting, but we are scoring runs regularly now and playing as well as we have all season, so it is just about turning it into wins as soon as possible now.”