Runs, Fans Aplenty In ANZAC Match

 There was a great turnout for the annual ANZAC Day commemoration match at the RAC April 26th, with players, friends and family braving the swine 'flu hype to watch some great cricket under a clear sky.

The ANZAC squad batted first and made a competitive 165, with a little more than half the runs coming off the blade of captain Jeff Houston of the Australian Embassy. Jeff (pictured above, cutting for four) made 88no in a chanceless but aggressive performance sprinkled with boundaries and sixes. 

After the traditional lamb lunch (thanks once again to Javier Matta, and to Sylvie Milverton and the Fosters for ANZAC biscuits and salads), the MCA XIII squad lashed the winning runs easily, thanks in particular to a stunning start by openers Nigel and Manish who blasted a series of straight sixes to get things rolling. Altogether, a terrific day for the MCA and proof of the hardiness of the cricket community in the face of the 'flu media frenzy.

MCA Retains Trophy Vs Houston

The Punisher. Arunesh won Player of the Tournament in Costa Rica and contributed 29 in MCA's victory over the touring Houston team. Photo ©Damian Milverton 2009

For a third consecutive time, the MCA won against Houston to retain the trophy. An outstanding batting effort, led by Kaushal (83) and Tarun (49) secured the win despite an outstanding late burst by the Houston bats.

Click here for a  full match report.

MCA Team Snares 2nd at CAC in Costa Rica

 Above, the MCA touring team in Costa Rica (Pic: Yasir Patel)

Congratulations to the MCA's touring team to Costa Rica, which put in a superb effort at the Central American Championships in Costa Rica in early April. They came away with second place, behind Panama, but can be proud of their play and their representation of the MCA at the event - including their great win over Belize.

Read the captain's tour diary and match reports here.

2009 MCA League Championship

Win=5, Draw or Tie=3, Loss=1, Forfeit=0 

Score summaries to come shortly 

 Aztecs batsman James Lee hears the death rattle as his team heads to defeat against a determined MCCC team. Aztecs suffered their first loss of the 2008/09 season as MCCC bowled, caught and batted superbly. (Photo ©Damian Milverton 2009) 

Junior Tournament 2009

 "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"

 MCA juniors took to the field at the RAC Feb. 15th for the second junior tournament of the season and dozens of promising young players thew themselves into the competition for a great day of fun in the sun. Thanks, as ever, go to Alan Downie, Deb Choudhuri, Dave Grant, Tushar Gupta, Yasir Patel, and the teachers and families who made the day possible.

Click here for more pictures of the exciting action from the MCA's next generation.

Mexico Cricketers Abroad

Mexico City Mariachis took part in the annual Sarasota International Cricket Club Six a Side Tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend in Florida. As usual Paul Longshaw managed the team; conveniently for him and the rest of the team he never had to play. Doug Amos and Hugo van Belle were the only other players to travel from Mexico and were joined by Henry van Belle from Miami,  Nat and Herman from Houston.
A pretty weak team on paper you might think but with the usual Mariachi bravado and the help of a couple of West Indian ringers drafted in after the first game was lost against Esher the team started to put a run together.
Each opposing team was treated to a shot of tequila and the Mariachi “war cry” complete with luchador masks. Thanks to some very gritty batting performances and economical bowling particularly from Doug Amos and Hugo van Belle we found ourselves in the final after dispatching Surrey Vagrants, Toronto and the Redbacks along the way. Before the final the Mariachis managed to amuse all the competing teams and visitors at the dinner/dance with their rendition of Maricahi Loco complete with red mariachi suits, white capes and hats. The best outfits ever. The team did not disappoint in the final either. In torrential rain and 50mph winds the Wetbacks (as the team had been dubbed by now) dispatched the Redbacks comfortably in the 6 over format; Doug Amos the Mariachi secret weapon doing most of the damage with ball and Hugo and young Ben with bat.
All that was left was for the Mariachis to pick up the Fun Shield once more (last time of asking the team also won in 2002) and paint the town Mariachi red!
Thanks to Jermaine, Joel and Patrick Winchester, the bell ringers, for all their support and congratulations to Houston Memorial who beat Sarasota in the Festival final having beaten a Glamorgan team made up of England internationals such as Matthew Maynard along the way.
For this year let´s hope to have a better showing from MCA members.

More pictures here 

2007 Brian Gay One Day Trophy - Aztecs Win

Match Summaries

6-12-08:  Aztecs 165 in 25 overs (Lali 50no, Damian 41, Gagan 19; Hugo 3/8, Tushar 2/14)  won by eleven runs against Corinthians 154 in 25 overs (Kamlesh 47, Tushar 28no; Moni 3/12). Match Report. Scoresheet.

30-11-08:  MCCC 88 in 16 overs (Yasir Patel 36, Sanjeev 24; Sandeep 2/4, Lincoln 2/10) lost by seven wickets to Reforma 91 in 19 overs (Kevin 35, Arunesh 215, KD 17no; Keith Foster 2/17). Match Report. Scoresheet.

 2-11-08:  Corinthians 45 in 10.5 overs (Kaushal 3/10, Arunesh 2/8, KD 2/20) lost by eight wickets to Reforma 2/46 in 8.2 overs (Kevin 20, KD 15no; Ashok 2/14). Match Report. Scoresheet.

26-10-08:  Aztecs 119 in 18 overs (Chiranjit Basak 24, Tarun Sharma 22no, Damian Milverton 20no, Lal Singh Panwar 17) won by eight wickets against MCCC 118 in 25 overs (Pavan 28no, Tushar Gupta 15no, Alan Downie 14; Manish Matta 4/23). Match Report. Scoresheet.

19-10-08: Aztecs 91 in 23 overs (Sanjeev 40 no, Tarun Sharma 12; Hugo Van Belle 3/22, Kaushal Ahuja 3/22, Tushar Gupta 2/9, Arunesh Verma 2/13) won by one wicket against Reforma 90 in 17.2 overs (Kaushal Ahuja 26, Arunesh Verma 18; Chiranjit Basak 4/14, Damian Milverton 3/29, Manish Matta 2/23). Match report. Scoresheet.

12-10-08: MCCC 135 (Yasir Patel 42, Sanjeev 37, Arunesh Verma 21; Bose 3/17, Kevin Bhuller 3/6) won by 14 runs against Corinthians 121 (Srini 31, Ashok Kumar 17, James Garrity 12; Yasir Patel 3/20, Lal Singh Panwar 2/4). Match report. Scoresheet.

The Junior Tournament - Stars in the Making

Supported by their parents, teachers and MCA members, sixty youngsters played in the 2008/09 Junior Tournament at the RAC Nov. 23, with their enthusiasm suggesting a bright future for cricket in Mexico. See a slideshow of pictures by clicking here.

 Six-A-Side Tournament 2008 - Reforma Wins

 Take that! Reforma captain Tushar Gupta lashes a six as he rips the 19 runs needed in the final over to win a 6s game against Corinthians. (Photo ©Damian Milverton 2008)

 This year's 6s tournament was a resounding success, with the cricket reflecting the bright and sunny conditions that seemed an improbability earlier in the day when gloom and cold abounded. Four teams, including defending champs MCCC/Lancaster, took part and we had the added pleasure of fielding two young recruits - Sara Downie, 14, and Erik Alonso ,12.

Amid an excellent atmosphere and tremendous sportsmanship, the 6s games lived up to their billing as smash-and-dash specials. After the full round of matches, it took a bowl-off between Aztecs, Reforma and Corinthians to decide the contest - and Kevin Bhuller looped a trademark leg spinner into middle stump to hand Reforma the tournament victory.

Full match report. Photos.