Brazil retain the Challenge Shield

In an enthralling game in São Paulo on 22 April Brazil beat Chile by 50 runs to retain the Challenge Shield. Brazil were put in to bat, and runs were difficult to come by against tight bowling from Tim Messner, Ian Scott and captain Stuart Nelson. Despite losing four early wickets, Opener Graeme Salt, helped by Kamil Ghaffar, John Housely, Alex Odell and Alex Swan, managed to steady the innings and then improve the scoring rate. Salt nearly carried his bat for an excellent 67. On an easy-playing matting wicket, 140 looked well within reach, particularly as Chile had scored 252-5 in the previous day's friendly.

But this was not to be. Brazil bowled very tightly, with main pace bowlers Alex Swan (1-17), Dave Butcher (1-15), Vishnu Chaudari (2-17) and off-spinner Salt (4-15) never allowing the Chile talented batsmen to get on top, and no Chile batsman managed to score more than 19. Brazil skipper Dave Gilman took the final wicket to celebrate retaining the shield.

Challenge Shield, 22 April.
Brazil 140 (40 overs) (Graeme Salt 67; Ian Walker 4-23)
Chile 90 (36 overs) (Graeme Salt 4-15)
Man of the Match: Graeme Salt

Friendlies

21 April
Chile 252-5 (40 overs) (Tim Messner 111 retired, Dean Ilott 53)
Brazil 79 (24.5 overs) (Dave Jacob 28; Ian McFarlane 4-12)
Chile won by 173 runs

23 April
Chile 244-7 (35 overs) (Ian Scott 62 retired, Ian Walker 45, Guy Hooper 28, Harry Meakin 24)
Brazil 114-9 (35 overs) (Dave Gilman 28*, Alex Odell 23; Enrique Valenzuela 3-12)
Chile won by 130 runs