We are incredibly grateful to Tyremart Graaff-Reinet for their generous sponsorship of our 1st XI cricketers ahead of this yearโs Cape Schools’ Cricket Week.
A special ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ goes to Campbell Scott, whose generosity ensures our cricketers look and feel their best as they take on this exciting challenge.
Pictured here are Grade 12 cricketers ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ and ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐น ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ showing off the new warm-up and T20 kits.
Our Union High School u/13A cricket boys are gearing up for an exciting tour to Knysna this Friday!
Thanks to the wonderful generosity of ๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐, the team will be looking extra smart in their brand-new warm-up tops.
Pictured here is Mr Paul Marx alongside cricketers Joshua Kingwill, Nathaneal Phillips and Edwin Holmes, proudly showing off the new kit.
Union U11A enjoyed a successful weekend against Queens, winning both fixtures. On Friday, Queens posted 92/5 before Union chased it down with 94/3, thanks to Mark Copemanโs unbeaten 42 and strong support from teammates. On Saturday, Union set 101/8 and bowled superbly to restrict Queens to 83/9, sealing an 18-run victory. Disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and mature batting underpinned two well-deserved wins.
13A Match Report vs Queens Junior
On Friday, 12 September, Union won the toss in the pro20 match and chose to bat first, posting 95 runs with Dante Mills (31) and Kari Stern (21) contributing well. Despite the modest total, Union produced an outstanding performance in the field, restricting Queens to 74/9 in their 20 overs. Union claimed a well-deserved 21-run victory.
On Saturday, 13 September, Union again batted first and scored 98 runs, with Nathaneal Phillips top scoring with 40. The bowlers were once more superb, restricting Queens to 90/9 in 30 overs, with Grant Murray taking 3/12. Union secured a narrow 8-run win.
Union High School won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite a positive intent, the team lost early wickets during the powerplay and was forced to consolidate. We managed to post a total of 92 runs.
Top scorers for the innings were:
Sibabalwe Mbotye โ 28 runs
Callum Jacobs โ 27 runs
Victoria Park chased down the target in 13 overs, winning the match by 6 wickets.
Declaration Match vs Daniel Pienaar Technical High School
(Played in Kariega on Friday)
Union High School once again won the toss and chose to bat first. Unfortunately, the batting unit struggled to build partnerships and the team was dismissed for 73 all out.
Daniel Pienaar responded strongly, surpassing the target and enforcing a follow-on. In the second innings, Union High was bowled out for 39, giving Daniel Pienaar victory by an innings and 5 runs.
The standout performance came from Yaseen Kazi, who delivered an impressive spell with figures of 5 wickets for 35 runs in 9.5 overs.
Match vs Alexander Road High School
Unfortunately, the scheduled fixture against Alexander Road High School was abandoned due to rain.
Summary
While our fielding department showed great effort and energy throughout the festival, the batting departments fell short of expectations. Key areas have been identified for improvement, and we are committed to working hard as we move forward.
It’s back to the drawing board with a clear focus on consistency, resilience, and discipline in all aspects of the game.
A big well done to Unionโs talented u13 cricketers, ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ and ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ถ๐น๐น, on being drafted to compete in the Eastern Province Cricket League (EPL) in Gqeberha!
Both boys proudly received their caps at the EPL Draft Ceremony at St Georgeโs Park on Friday, marking a special milestone in their cricketing journeys.
Union High School vs Pearson High School, 6โ7 September 2025
The first match of the new cricket season got underway at Union High School on Saturday morning on a perfect spring day for cricket.
Before the start of play, Pearsonโs captain, Sulaymaan Gangat, together with Unionโs captain, Shaakir Kazi, had the honour of ringing the ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น – a special tradition at Union that signals the imminent start of play.
1st Team โ Friday T20 Match Report Union High Schoolโs 1st Team won the toss and elected to bat first in Fridayโs T20 encounter against Pearson High School. Despite a positive start, early pressure from Pearsonโs disciplined bowling attack saw Union lose two wickets during the powerplay, which ultimately restricted them to a total of 85 for 6 after 20 overs.
Pearson responded confidently in their run chase, showing composure with the bat. Union’s fielders worked hard to apply pressure, and standout bowling from Yaaseen Kazi (4 overs, 23 runs, 2 wickets) helped keep the opposition in check. However, Pearson reached the target in the 15.4th over, securing victory by 6 wickets.
Despite the result, Union takes several positives from the match, especially in the bowling and fielding departments, which showed great intensity and teamwork.
1st Team โ Saturday 50-Over Match Report On Saturday, Union High School’s 1st Team took on Pearson High School in a 50-over clash. After losing the toss, Union was asked to bowl first. The bowlers responded with energy and intent, reducing Pearson to 105 for 5 after 16 overs, thanks to a fearless and attacking bowling display.
It was a proud moment for ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ฒ, who received his white cap ahead of his 1st XI debut against a visiting Pearson High School side.
However, Pearsonโs middle order stabilized their innings, with their number 5 batsman scoring a quick-fire 81 runs to shift the momentum. Pearson eventually posted a formidable total of 328 runs, all out. Unionโs fielding performance unfortunately fell short, missing key opportunities that could have limited the total further.
In response, Union struggled with the bat, losing two early wickets. However, Yaaseen Kazi showed exceptional grit and skill, scoring a courageous 68 runs under pressure. The team was eventually bowled out for 149, resulting in a 179-run win for Pearson.
A special congratulations goes to Yaaseen Kazi, who celebrated a significant personal milestone by taking his 100th wicket for the Union High School 1st Teamโa remarkable achievement.
2nd Team Match Report Union High Schoolโs 2nd Team won the toss and chose to bat first. However, Pearsonโs bowling attack proved too strong, dismissing Union for just 40 runs. Pearson chased down the target without losing a wicket, winning by 10 wickets. While the result was disappointing, it serves as a valuable learning experience, and the team will be looking to bounce back with renewed determination.
U15 Match Report On Saturday, 6 September, Union High Schoolโs U15 team faced Pearson High School in what proved to be a challenging fixture. After losing the toss, Union bowled first against a powerful Pearson batting lineup.
Pearson capitalized on scoring opportunities, finishing on 325 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs. Despite the best efforts from Unionโs bowlers, containing such a strong batting performance proved difficult. In the second innings, Unionโs batsmen faced a relentless bowling attack and struggled to build momentum, ultimately resulting in a 250-run loss.
While the result didnโt go in Unionโs favor, there were glimpses of potential throughout the game. The experience gained will be invaluable for the teamโs development going forward.
This past weekend, we successfully hosted the 2nd Annual 6-a-Side Cricket Tournament, aimed at promoting and developing the game, as well as raising much-needed funds in support of our First Team cricket program.
We were pleased to welcome eight competitive teams, each of which played three matches during the group stages. The tournament then progressed to two semi-final fixtures followed by a thrilling final.
Semi-Finalists: Port Elizabeth Team Old Unionites Wheatlands UHS 1
In the semi-finals, UHS 1 delivered a strong performance with a total of 90 runs against the Port Elizabeth team, securing their place in the final. The Old Unionites also advanced to the final after a commendable performance in their semi-final match.
Final Match: The final saw UHS 1 face off against Old Unionites. UHS 1 set a target of 63 runs, but in an exciting chase, the Old Unionites emerged victorious with two wickets in hand, claiming the title of 2025 6-a-Side Tournament Champions.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Old Unionites, a proud group of Union High School alumni, on their well-deserved win.
What a privilege it was for the Union Schoolsโ cricket boys to share an unforgettable afternoon with a legend of the sport, ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป!
The afternoon began with an air of excitement as the boys eagerly awaited their special guest. Gary Kirsten, known for his remarkable international career as a player and later as a successful coach, arrived with a warm smile that instantly put all the boys at ease.
The younger boys, particularly the u/7s, were a delightful highlight of the session. Their hilariously innocent questions brought laughter and joy to the room. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐บ’๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ค๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ต.
As the afternoon progressed, the tone shifted slightly as the senior players took their turn. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ, ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐, ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ.
Each question was met with generous insights from Gary, who shared personal anecdotes and valuable advice accrued through years of experience on the world stage.
Throughout the session, Gary’s passion for cricket was evident. It was inspiring to witness how he effortlessly connected with the boys, fostering an environment where learning and laughter thrived. ๐๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ: ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ.
Earlier this evening, Union High School, Graaff-Reinet‘s Tony Burrell Union transformed into a hub of inspiration and learning as we gathered to hear from the legendary ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป.
The former South African cricket coach and batsman captivated us with his insightful session on “Parenting in Sport,” ๐ถ๐น๐น๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป’๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ท๐ผ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐.
Kirsten, with his warm demeanor and engaging storytelling, transported us into his world – one shaped not only by the highs and lows of his cricket career but also by the lessons he learned as a coach and mentor.
Kirstenโs central message resonated deeply: โWeโve forgotten that a school is a place where you go to learn. ๐๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ.โ This profound statement encourages us to shift our perspective from pushing for immediate results to fostering environments where our kids can thrive, learn and build confidence at their own pace.
He eloquently articulated that sport participation is about more than just winning; itโs a vehicle for building self-esteem and resilience in our children. โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ฑ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ช๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ดโ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ซ๐ฐ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต ๐ข ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ,” he emphasized. This mantra reaffirmed the idea that joy in sport should always come first, echoing in the hearts of all the parents present.
Throughout the evening, Kirsten called on us to embrace our roles as pillars of support for our child athletes. He encouraged us to educate ourselves about the sports our children engage in and to remain patient as they traverse their unique paths of growth and progress.
As we reflect on the evening, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended, especially Gary Kirsten for his insightful presentation.
A special ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ goes to the Old Unionite Association and Mr William Copeman for their efforts in hosting this memorable even
Saturday, 1 March, saw Union High School’s junior cricketers head to Gqeberha for a fixture against Summerwood Primary School.
In the ๐/๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ match, Union won the toss and chose to bat first, aiming to set a strong total.
However, despite a determined effort, they were bowled out for just 38. Defending the low total, Union’s bowlers fought hard, taking two wickets, but Summerwood chased down the target with ease, winning by 8 wickets.
While the result wasn’t in their favour, the Union boys showed resilience and gained valuable match experience.
Union’s ๐/๐ญ๐ฏ๐๐ team, however, managed to secure a dominant 169-run victory over Summerwood in overcast conditions.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Josh Kingwill led the charge with a brilliant 113 off 111 balls.
He was well-supported by Ryan Collett (29) and Cayden Thompson (26). In response, ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป’๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐, restricting Summerwood to just 85 all out.
Sintayu Kaitro was the star with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 18 runs, while Uthmaan Steele impressed with 2 wickets for no runs.
