Mexico

Easter is traditionally the busiest time of year for the MCA and this year was no exception. Just before Easter it was time for the annual visit of the Houston Memorial CC to Mexico. Unfortunately the visitors team had been weakened by some last-minute desertions, but was bolstered by the inclusion of some of the MCA's veteran `occasional' players, most of whom have been part of this fixture for large portions of the previous 26 years.

The Saturday fixture against the MCA 2nd X1 was a closely fought affair that swung back and forth all afternoon. MCA batted first and after a shaky start, went on to reach 176 in the allotted 30 overs, thanks to solid middle-order batting. Houston's reply was always up with the run rate but at the cost of regular wickets, so that they reached their final over needing 9 runs, but with one wicket in hand. Four of these runs they got, but then lost their last wicket to hand victory to the MCA 2nd X1.

Sunday's game was more one-sided, as MCA 1st X1 bowled out the Houston side for only 88 and then chased down this modest total in only 14 overs, to give MCA a two-day clean sweep for the first time anyone present could remember, and retaining the trophy won last year. We shall be taking a full team up to Houston in September when we expect a much tougher time hanging on to the silverware.

Sunday April 24th saw another regular fixture played - the annual ANZACs vs Rest-of-the-World game, always played to coincide with the international commemorations of ANZAC day. The Mexican antipodean contingent (with a little help from some friends from Pakistan)took on a cosmopolitan RoW team with players from the UK, India, Spain and Mexico all present. The RoW team batted first and knocked up a decent 154 in 30 overs, then followed that up with an excellent performance in the field. Not a single catch was dropped as the RoW dismissed the ANZACs for 96 to hang on to the trophy they won for the first time last year. As always, the game was accompanied by a lamb barbecue with all the trimmings, much appreciated by players and the m any spectators along for the afternoon. The game was marked by 5 new members joining up on the day, a boost for the MCA in their drive to get more players involved here in Mexico.

The MCA Championship is reaching its conclusion, with three more fixtures to play in May to decide the eventual winners. Currently tied at the top are Tigres de Bengala and Reforma, who are scheduled to play each other in what should be a nail-biting final game of the season - as long as the fast-approaching rainy season holds off until then.