Whanganui lad Charlie Lourie and PNBHS cricket teammates on international duty

Whanganui teenager Charlie Lourie delivers one of his left arm off spins during his Cricket Development Tour to Australia and South Africa with Palmerston North Boys' High School.

One Whanganui lad and his Palmerston North Boys' High teammates struggled to find form on their nine-match cricket tour of Australia and South Africa this month.

Charlie Lourie, who is a boarder at PNBHS because his father went there, was part of the school's 2018 Cricket Development Tour that took in three games in Perth, Western Australia and seven games in South Africa.

Lourie, a 16-year-old left-arm off-spin bowler for PNBHS' 3rd X1, very nearly missed the cut for the tour. However, thanks to a teammate originally selected pulling the pin after gaining selection to play for the New Zealand Schools Māori rugby squad.

"When the touring team was first named, unfortunately I was not one of the 18 players selected," Lourie said.

"Lucky for me one was also selected to play for New Zealand Schools Māori rugby and that's when it all started for me."

The PNBHS touring team managed two wins in Perth, but struggled against the large and affluent South African colleges with intensive sporting programmes, especially strong around cricket and rugby.

Fortunately, as the name suggested, it was a development tour for the Manawatu schoolboys and they certainly learned from the experience.

"Going into this trip I was very nervous as I didn't know many of the players and had never travelled internationally before," Lourie conceded.

"Three matches were played in Australia and we left that country with two wins out of three. We then flew out to Johannesburg to catch a connecting flight to Cape Town. We played two games there at two amazing facilities and then jumped on a plane back to Johannesburg.

"Fortunately we were able to get tickets to the All Blacks versus South Africa test at Loftus Stadium where we performed our school haka to the ABs from the crowd after the game."

One of the more memorable matches for young Lourie was the final game of the tour against St Stithians College.

"They are one of the most prestigious schools in Johannesburg and they have grounds to match. The game was played on one of their ovals which has day/night capabilities and is overlooked by their very own restaurant.

"What I learned on this tour from my coaches was to put all into each game, which is what I did in the last and I produced by far my best figures of 2 for 26 off 8 overs. The highlight of the tour for me was being able to play in different countries and visit places I never thought I would ever see. I would like to thank Property Brokers for sponsoring me for such an amazing experience," Lourie said.