What was a the start of a highly anticipated season, especially following the success of the National Team at the recent ICC Trophy, has turned into a lottery of adverse weather and unique distractions.

Rain, persistent and often heavy rain, during the last two months, has been the biggest dampener on the domestic program. An already saturated country continues to be inundated with unseasonal rain, and one dramatic downpour on a Friday quite easily puts paid to an entire weekends matches, as grounds are regularly left flooded.

Add to this some high profile events that further add complications, such as the Diego Maradona tribute match at La Bombanera, the home of Boca Juniors, then a weekend national census, which required the general population to wait at home ready to be counted, and still to come, the All Blacks versus the Pumas at the River Plate Stadium.

November is in any event a difficult month, with school and university examinations putting a strain on player availability. When events, such as a spate of injuries to key players, also take a further toll on numbers, and the weather also continues to act against the best intentions, it's made for a rather muddy start to the season.

The rain has caused an added concern, as the expected work scheduled to be done on the three main grounds and turf wickets in preparation for the Americas Cup tournament to be held in Buenos Aires in March, 2002, has had to be put on hold.

Still, cricket will continue, and will continue to grow, and indeed, some matches have been contested and even completed.

In the First Division, the perennial strength of Belgrano continues to dominate, and the team, with seven members of the successful ICC Trophy squad on board, and with the addition of solid all-rounder Murray Davis, have looked strong in early season action.

Wins over defending champions Lomas, missing Billy MacDermott and Martin Siri for the season through injury, over Hurlingham, who have lost Davis, Grant Dugmore to St.Albans, and with ace bowler Sunyog Chauhan out through injury, and over the young development side, Capitals, have placed Belgrano firmly at the top of the table.

St.Albans look, at this point, to be the only realistic challengers, and with wins over Lomas and Hurlingham, and a match in hand, are handily placed second.

Lomas, Hurlingham and the Capitals will have their work cut out to stay with the two front-runners, but they still possess the talent to topple any other team on their day.

Lomas A lead the race in the Second Division, ahead of Old Georgians and St.George's, while St.Alban's are firmly in front in the Third Division, with Lomas B in second place.

Batting has continued to dominate, with National opening batsmen Matias Paterlini and Gaston Arizaga both hitting back to back to centuries, while National captain Guillermo Kirschbaum, and Murray Davis, have also added to the centurion board.

Amongst the youngsters, Estanislao Falcon batted well opening the batting for the Capitals against Hurlingham, while Pedro Bruno has been starring in the Third Division.

The following averages cover the ICC Trophy, the U19 Americas Championship and First Division matches:

BATTING  (Minimum 3 Innings)
                                                                             

                                 M   I  NO  Runs  HS     Ave.
Matias PATERLINI (St.Albans)     9   9   2  444  116*   63.42
Tomas FRANCIS (St.Albans)        4   4   2  106   52    53.00
Paul FERGUSON (Belgrano)        13  13   5  398   67    49.75
Gaston ARIZAGA (Belgrano)       10  10   0  407  150    40.70
Diego LORD (Lomas)               5   3   1   81   46    40.50
Malcolm VAN STEEDEN (Hurlingham) 7   7   3  154   65    38.50
Guillermo KIRSCHBAUM (Belgrano)  9   9   1  300  125    37.50
Martín CORTABARRIA (Belgrano)    7   7   3  129   50*   32.25
Donny FORRESTER (Belgrano)       7   7   0  204   65    29.14
Billy MACDERMOTT (Lomas)         4   4   1   69   39    23.00

BOWLING   (Minimum 20 Overs)
                                 O    M    R    W    BB     Ave.
Andres PEREZ RIVERO (Belgrano)  68.4  8   263  19   4-12   13.84
Martín HEMMINGSEN (Hurlingham)  61.3  7   239  12   3-33   19.91
Christian TUÑON (St.Albans)     54    2   250  11   4-41   22.72
Billy MACDERMOTT (Lomas)        37    3   163   7   3-41   23.28
Paul FERGUSON (Belgrano)        62.3  8   244   9   3-10   27.11
Lucas PATERLINI (St.Albans)    109.2  9   498  17   3-24   29.29
Diego LORD (Lomas)              36    0   191   6   3-69   31.83
Gaston ARIZAGA (Belgrano)       40    0   258   8   4-37   32.25
Hernan PEREYRA (St.Albans)      67    6   239   7   3-34   34.14
Paul RYAN (Lomas)               59    0   417  11   3-27   37.90

It is also interesting to note the list of most economical bowlers, seeing 
as all the above cricket is of the 50-over limited variety:

3.39  Martin CORTABARRIA (Belgrano) ;   3.56  Hernan PEREYRA (St.Albans)
3.61  Rudi MEYER (Hurlingham) ;   3.84  Andres PEREZ RIVERO (Belgrano)
3.85  Donny FORRESTER (Belgrano) ;   3.89  Martin HEMMINGSEN (Hurlingham)
3.91  Paul FERGUSON (Belgrano) ;   4.33  Murray DAVIS (Belgrano)
4.40  Billy MACDERMOTT (Lomas)  ;   4.56  Lucas PATERLINI (St.Albans)

Good wishes to everyone around the world for a blessed and peaceful holiday season.

© ICC