Argentina's South Africa tour hailed a success

Argentina has returned from its lightning six-match South African tour with an impressive 4-2 win/loss record.

The Argentines opened their tour with a well-earned 66 run win over Scorpions C.C. in Stellenbosch. The win was set-up by a 96-run seventh-wicket partnership between Paul Ferguson (50) and Martin Siri (49), which had rescued the tourists from a disastrous 89-6 to 203 all-out in 50 overs.

Bernardo Irigoyen then made the early breakthrough, capturing 14-2, while off-spinner Billy McDermott bowled a miserly 16-2 off nine overs to reduce Scorpions to 137 in 36.1 overs.

A magnificent second-wicket partnership of 127 between new-comer Charles Gibson (76 runout) and Donnie Forrester (69) saw Argentina score an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Constantia-Urisig XII in Cape Town in their second match of the tour.

Fine bowling from Diego Lord (25-2 from 8.4 overs) and debutante Lucas Paterlini (29-2) had earlier reduced Constantia-Urisig to 207 all-out in 48.4 overs. Unfortunately, this was not matched by the fielding, with five chances spilled.

After determinedly withstanding fiery opening bowling, Gibson and Forrester dominated the Constantia-Urisig attack. Gibson faced 131 balls, hitting three fours and one six, while Forrrester smashed 60 from 71 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes as Argentina secured victory with 209 in 48.8 overs. Argentina suffered its first loss in the third match, losing by seven wickets to a Boland Country Districts XI in Paarl. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Argentina crumbled to 141 in 43.1 overs. Extras 47 (38 wides) top-scored for the tourists, while Donnie Forrester once again impressed with 33 from 50 balls.

Gaston Arizaga was the pick oif the Argentine bowlers, taking 8-2 from 2.2 overs, as Boland Country Districts thrashed 145-3 in 17.2 overs. Captain Guillermo Kirschbaum guided Argentina home in the fourth match of the tour with a man-of-the-match winning 88 not out, as his team thrashed a Cape Town XI by seven wickets.

Fine off-spin bowling (31-5 in 10 overs) from Donnie Forrester and tight opening bowling from Andy Perez-Rivero (18-1) in 10 overs had previously limited the Cape Town XI to 209-9 in 50 overs.

Argentina began confidently with a 40 run partnership but the loss of two quick wickets meant Forrester and Kirschbaum needed to pick up the pace. This they did, adding 56 runs before Forrester departed, scoring 27. Alex Ferguson then combined with Kirschbaum to produce an unbeaten 114 run partnership which gave Argentina victory in the 48th over.

Argentina narrowly lost a thriller in its fifth match against Alma Marist C.C. in Cape Town, losing by just three runs. The match was a late addition to the itinerary.

Arizaga (30-4) and Bernardo Irigoyen (39-2) complimented fine Argentine fielding (Ignazio Shimamoto taking three excellent catches) to keep Alma Marist to 173 in 30 overs.

Irigoyen made a brave attempt at the end to get Argentina home with 35, while earlier Andy Perez had compiled a steady 22. Argentina was all-out for 170 in 29.2 overs.

Unfortunately details of Argentina win over Groot Drakenstein C.C. in its last match were not available at the time of writing.

The tour has provided invaluable match practice for Argentina as it prepares for the South American Cup, to be played in Lima, Peru, in Easter. Teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Peru and Miami-based Guyanese are expected to participate.

The next edition will feature full details of the 100th staging of the premier event in Argentine cricket, the annual North-South match, from March 5-7.