Although results were by and large predictable on day two of the 3rd Central American Championships being played at the Los Reyes Polo Club in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Panama stayed on course for their first title, the action was interesting throughout the day.
Photo shows national presidents Keith Foster (left) of Mexico and Richard Illingworth of Costa Rica shaking hands before the Mexico v Costa Rica match.
Panama won their only fixture of the day by demolishing hosts Costa Rica. After rattling up a respectable 159 for 5 in their 20 overs, the Panama pace attack proved too much for the Costa Ricans who crumbled to 22 all out. Panama's last remaining game is against minnows El Salvador and they will be confident of wrapping up the title.
Belize and Mexico kept their faint hopes of the title alive should Panama slip up, as well as their respective campaigns for the silver medal. Belize beat a spirited El Salvador by 43 runs, while Mexico beat both El Salvador and Costa Rica. After securing a comfortable 8 wicket win against El Salvador, Mexico looked in some trouble against Costa Rica before pulling through.
After compiling 169 for 5, they saw the Costa Rican openers race to 96 in 11 overs before the first wicket fell. However, the hosts could not maintain the challenge after that, and were all out for 128 and Mexico thus won by 41 runs.
In the final round of matches, Panama play El Salvador, while Mexico and Belize have a straight shoot-out for second place.
- Mexico beat El Salvador by 8 wickets.
Las Reyes Polo Club, 5 April.
El Salvador 80-9 (20 overs, R Davis 17, A Verma 3-10, M Matta 3-7, K Ahuja 2-14)
Mexico 84-2 (10.4 overs, Y Patel 41*, K Ahuja 26*, S Cullen 2-17) - Panama beat Costa Rica by 137 runs.
Las Reyes Polo Club, 5 April.
Panama 159-5 (20 overs, S Chohan 62, N Bhakta 57, S Catford 2-13, Y Bhatnagar 2-15)
Costa Rica 22 (9.1 overs, Irfan Tarajia 6-3, B Patel 2-1) Panama won by 137 runs - Belize beat El Salvador by 43 runs.
Las Reyes Polo Club, 5 April.
Belize 115-8 (20 overs, W Anthony 29, W Flowers 33, S Cullen 2-7, R Davis 2-26, E Carpio 2-6)
El Salvador 72-8 (19.4 overs, Andrew Banner 2-10) - Mexico beat Costa Rica by 41 runs.
Las Reyes Polo Club, 5 April.
Mexico 169-5 (20 overs, A Verma 86, Y Patel 28, S Bryant 2-21)
Costa Rica 128 (18.3 overs, B Smith 49, S Catford 39, A Verma 5-21, M Matta 3-20)
P W L T Pts
Panama 3 3 0 0 12
Belize 3 2 1 0 8
Mexico 3 2 1 0 8
Costa Rica 4 1 3 0 4
El Salvador 3 0 3 0 0
