The Oundle School Cricket Club took a group of 16 boys from four year groups on a 1st team development cricket tour to South Africa over the Easter holidays.
It was an outstanding trip with tough cricket played in fantastic weather against strong teams that were coming to the end of their season: Paul Roos Gimnasium School in Stellenbosch, New Orleans Secondary School in Paarl, PRG Academy, De Villiers Graaff High School in Villiersdorp and Newlands CC in Cape Town.
The Oundle squad won two of the five matches they played. The final game of the tour could have been a win, but it slipped out of their grasp towards the end. The squad were well on top halfway through the second innings, but bowled poorly at a crucial time, allowing the opposition to take the advantage and run away with the score.
At the start of the new cricket season, much was learned by the boys, and the experience will surely help them become better players.
The boys also enjoyed the opportunity to watch some world-class cricket from a box at the Newlands Test with South Africa vs Australia just a day before the cricket world shattering ball-tampering scandal erupted.
Off the cricket pitch, activities included a trip to the top of Table Mountain, a tour of Robben Island, and a chance to see lions that had been rescued from circus acts.
The highlight for many was the visit Mbekweni Township to coach cricket young schoolboys.
O Butterworth
