History of sorts was created over the Easter weekend at the Lima Football
and Cricket Club when Peru achieved what is believed to be their first
tournament win on a tricky home pitch, defeating Chile in an exciting final.
The finalists were joined in Lima by a South American Wanderers team, a
hotchpotch of Peruvian, Chilean and Brazilian based players thrown together
when the latter had insufficient numbers.
It was a useful hitout for Peru and Chile ahead of the South American
Championships to be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina from November
29-December 6.
The victory was especially rewarding for the 40-50 odd Peruvian expatriates
who form the Lima Football and Cricket Club as they rarely have the
opportunity to test themselves against outside opposition.
A final had not been scheduled for the tournament, but results from the
first two games meant the last match between Peru and Chile would see who
could lay claim to being South American cricket's third strongest country
(after Guyana and Argentina) for now anyway.
Chile batted first on a turf wicket that was said to be "extremely bowler
friendly". Deliveries lifted wickedly off a good length, Chile losing
openers, Bruce Phillips and Blair Douglas, to catches in front of wicket
from balls popping up conveniently for fielders. Phillips would later keep
wicket with a broken middle finger.
Chile amassed 133 from its 40 overs and that seemed to be more than enough
for victory when the Peruvians had lost six wickets before reaching 50.
Douglas and Australian born all-rounder Tim Messner, were capitalising on
the pitch, getting significant movment off the seam.
Messner had starred in Chile's win over the South American Wanderers the
previous day, top scoring with an unbeaten 64 and then nabbing 5-29 with his
fast medium pacers.
Peru then rallied, thanks to a 40 run ninth wicket stand between Jorge
Pancorvo and "Sonu", surviving a late scare when a win seemed assured.
Needing two runs for an unlikely victory, a catch was dropped at forward
short leg which would have brought the no. 11 to the crease who was said to
be well qualified for that batting position.
It was Peru's first win over Chile in five encounters.
South American Triangular Tournament, Lima, Peru. March 29, 30, 31, 2002.
29 March
Peru 228-6 (40 overs) (Giresh 45, Ballhatchet 63, Major 42)
South American Wanderers 107 (Chandra 3-15)
by 121 runs
30 March
Chile 268-9 (40 overs) (Phillips 51, Douglas 54, Messner 64*; Kinnell 4-46)
South American Wanderers 97 (Messner 5-29)
by 171 runs
31 March
Chile 133 (40 overs) (Pawan 35; Major 3-31) lost to
Peru 137-9 (Douglas 3-27)
by one wicket
© ICC 2002
