The spread of cricket round the world was wonderfully illustrated on Sunday at the St Albans Club in Corimayo, Buenos Aires, where Brazil’s new women’s team took on Argentina in a three-match Twenty20 series for the Baimax Trophy.

The considerably more experienced Argentinian squad won both the first day’s matches comfortably enough and made sure of the trophy, but the Brazilians showed in their enthusiasm and desire to learn that it would not be long before they were able to compete with the other Associates’ and Affiliates’ women’s sides in the region.

The visit returns one made by Argentina to Brasilia in 2007, soon after the formation of the Brazilian women’s team.

International umpire Karran Bayney, who had been officiating in the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament, said after the matches that he was impressed both by the spirit in which the games had been played and the improvement in the visitors’ performance as the day went on.

Brazilian captain Erika Reinehr won the toss and elected to field in the first match, and Argentina compiled 97 for five in their twenty overs.

Delfina Cantón and Belen Casas gave their side a great start with an opening stand of 30, and Cantón went on to bat through almost the whole of the innings for a 46-ball 32. Opening bowler Juliana Brito bowled steadily, conceding only 10 runs from her four overs.

Brazil found the going tough when they replied, as the Argentinian attack was accurate enough to make scoring difficult. Dirce Yuli conceded only 6 from four overs and claimed the wicket of Erika Reinehr’s twin sister Narayana, while Cecilia Birnie cleaned up in the latter stages of the innings, capturing four for 8 in three overs to take the Player of the Match award.

For Brazil, the best batting came from Brito and Luisa Paranhos, who added 30 valuable runs for the third wicket.

The captains agreed that the Brazilians would bat first in the second match, and pressure and lack of experience again told as there were five run-outs in their total of 76 for nine.

Dirce Yuli was responsible for two of them, and again bowled well to take one for 9, earning the second Player of the Match award. She was well supported by Sofia Bruno (none for 6 in four), while Veronica Vasquez, Birnie and skipper Catalina Greloni picked up a wicket each.

Narayana Reinehr, Brito and Paranhos were the three Brazilians to reach double figures.

The home side had little difficulty in reaching this target for the loss of three wickets in 12 overs, helped by a plethora of wides as the Brazilian bowlers, who had been relatively accurate in the morning, wilted in the Buenos Aires heat.

Brazilian coach Vince Bostick said after the matches that he was delighted with the way his side had performed – several of them had only been playing for a matter of months – and both he and they are now looking forward to the ICC America’s women’s championship in Florida in May.

For Argentina, the Baimax series provides a valuable workout as they prepare for the challenge of again meeting the more experienced sides from Canada, the USA and Bermuda.