In the final match of the 8th South American Championships Argentina A took on Brazil at the Sao Paulo Athletic Club in a Twenty20 contest. Argentina won the toss and sent Brazil in to bat. Saturday’s hero for Brazil, Gregor Caisley (14), couldn’t repeat his heroics but still managed the second highest score for Brazil. Vikki Chaudry (15) was the only other Brazilian to reach double digits as Argentina bowled a tight and disciplined line with Ciaburri (3 for 6) and Tissera (3 from 13) doing most of the damage in their four over spells. Brazil crashed to 65 for 8 after 20 overs.

Argentina A only needed 3.25 an over to win the match and the tournament. They slowly and patiently went about their chase with opening batsman Charles Gibson (24*) leading the way. Rubabal Islam bowled well for Brazil taking a wicket and bowling the only maiden over of the innings allowing just 6 runs from his 4 over spell. Brazil had managed to take three wickets for 34 runs when Alejandro Tissera came to the middle. Tissera (19*) hit a four and two sixes including the match winner in the 16th over to win the match and the tournament for Argentina A.

After winning the first five South American Championships, the Argentines reclaimed their title of South American Champions. Many thanks should go to the Brazilian Cricket Association and the Sao Paulo Athletic Club for hoisting such a successful tournament. SAC 8 has been a great tournament. These four teams will meet again for SAC 9 which is schedule take place in Viña del Mar, Chile in 2011.

In the earlier match, Peru won the toss and put Chile into bat on an overcast morning for the first ever Twenty20 match to played in a South American Championship. Chile’s only chance of winning the tournament required a big win over Peru and a huge upset by Brazil over Argentina to force a three way tie and a net run rate decision. The Chilean innings started quickly with 22 runs on the board in two overs before Andrews (7) was caught by the new Peruvian Captain Miles Buesst. Chris Emmott (11) followed two overs later with the score on 43 when he was clean bowled by Nadeem. Chile was scoring at over 10 an over but losing a batsman every two overs. Enter Prateek Dahiya; 10 overs and 90 runs later Prateek also fell victim to a catch by the new Peruvian Captian, but Chile were on their way to a huge total. Chilean Captain Hooper (66) was the third victim of Buesst when Appleyard took a fine catch over his head. The Chilean tail consisted of two on the under-19 national team, Ezyaguirre (8*) and Dawes (4*) batted well and ran quickly between the wickets setting a total of 175/8 from 20 overs.

The Peruvians got off to a strong start chasing 8.75 an over with Appleyard (23) and Buesst (40) each hitting sixes and eight 4’s between them before being caught out. The Chilean fielding was sharp with Prateek running out Hildebrand (8) with a direct hit from long off and Eyzaguirre taking three catches deep on the boundary. The run rate climbed steadily under the constant fielding pressure and loss of wickets. The Peruvians looked resigned to bat out their innings when Cristián Eyzaguirre was asked to bowl the final over of the match. The young Chilean was definitely up to the task taking 2 wickets from the final two balls of his first ever over to bowl Peru out in 20 overs for just 132 runs.

Prateek Dahiya was awarded man of the match for his quick 53 runs, two wickets and sharp run out. The Chileans quickly calculated their run new run-rate and settled in to watch the Brazil - Argentina match hoping for a Brazilian victory, a three-way tie on points and the possibility of a tournament victory on net run-rate. Whatever the result, this has been a very positive tournament for Chile with four Chileans, three of them under 19 making their debuts and performing very well.

• Argentina A beat Brazil by 7 wickets.
  Sao Paulo Athletic Club, 12 April.
  Brazil 65-8 (20 overs, Ciaburri 3-6, Tissera 3-13)
  Argentina A 68-3 15.2 overs (Gibson 24*, Tissera 19*)
• Chile beat Peru by 43 runs.
  Sao Paulo Athletic Club, 12 April.
  Chile 175-7 (20 overs, Hooper 66, Prateek 53)
  Peru 132 (20 overs, Buesst 40, Appleyard 32)

              P  W  L  T  Pts
Argentina A   3  3  0  0   12
Chile         3  2  0  1    8
Brazil        3  1  2  0    4
Peru          3  0  3  0    0

• Player of the tournament: Grant Dugmore (Argentina A)
• Bowler of the tournament: Sergio Ciaburri (Argentina A)
• Batsman of the tournament: Guy Hooper (Chile)

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