Uplands cricket team makes history

With just  249 boys currently enrolled at the College, they won the provincial leg and will  play the Titans franchise semi-final versus the winners of the Easterns region  on February 22 (they work the rankings out using a formula which takes into account number of matches played, format of each match, the strength of opposition played and obviously your results).
The boys came up against HTS Middelburg in the final of the Mpumalanga leg of the Coca-Cola T20 tournament on Saturday as the boys looked to extend their recent run of impressive form.

The batsmen made light work of the run chase, reaching the target of
56 after only eight overs to ensure a comprehensive eight wicket win.
Uplands’ skipper, Dean Carlisle won the toss and decided to take the ball in hand. This proved to be the correct decision as opening bowlers Gareth Park and Bevan Carlse ripped through Middelburg’s top order to have them reeling at four for four. They were unable to recover from that position. Carlse was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 10 in just three overs. He was well supported
by Park and Jason Bruce-Brand who picked up two wickets.
Every year schools across the country participate in the Coca-Cola national T20 tournament. It is broken down into three phases. Initially schools compete in their respective provinces. The winner of each province then compete on a franchise level i.e. the Titans, Lions, Cobras etc, and finally the winner of each franchise compete
in the main competition. Schools such as Hoërskool Water kloof and Grey College topped the first and second spot respectively. You probably wonder how Uplands managed to make the top 35 list? “At the end of the day it’s only 11 versus 11 on the field. The boys tend not to be over-awed by the opposition we play, but focus rather on the processes and strategies which have been put in place.
We are fortunate to have a group of talented individuals in this
particular group. What sets them apart, however, is their ability to gel as a team and willingness to play for each other,” said coach Patrick Smith.

Smith says that five years ago, the school made a conscious decision to take cricket at Uplands to the next level. In order to do so, professional structures were set-up across the school from u/9 right through to senior level. “The first team’s recent run of excellent results is due largely to all the coaches buying into the coaching philosophies we have put in place to create sustainable
success. As far as I am concerned, we haven’t achieved anything yet. We are only at the beginning of our exciting mission to achieve greatness,” he continued.
Make sure to come and watch this exciting team in action at their
home ground on the 22. For those savvy people out there, follow them on Twitter@UplandsCricket.