MCC returned from a historic overseas tour of Brazil this week, the first time that men’s and women’s squads have simultaneously toured the same country.

The two squads played various fixtures, initially as part of the South American Cricket Championships, before several other matches and coaching sessions.

Held at the São Fernando Cricket Club, situated in Itaguaí, around 45 miles west of Rio de Janeiro, the South American Cricket Championships saw MCC Women play two T20 matches against Argentina A, as well as a game against a combined Argentinian and Brazilian XI. 

The opening win over Argentina, by 47 runs, saw Gayatri Gole make 41 from 44 balls before skipper Hazel Lovegrove claimed incredible figures of 5 for 9. A 34-run defeat to the combined XI followed, before a second win over Argentina by four wickets was engineered by Gabby Basketeer’s quickfire 37.

Panama, Mexico and Peru provided the opposition for the first three men’s matches at São Fernando, with MCC winning all three. Niel Botha took three wickets in both of the five-wicket wins over Panama and Mexico, before skipper Adam Ball starred with 44 in the 55-run win against Peru. 

A ‘double double-header’ then followed, with both teams playing hosts Brazil in two T20 matches and MCC women sealed wins by five wickets and 26 runs. Gole was again in the runs in the first match, making an unbeaten 45 after Basketeer had taken 3 for 19. Claire Taylor starred in the second game with 64 from 42 balls before Phoebe Graham claimed 3 for 22.

The men also completed the double victory, with Nick Hammond’s 56 not out helping them to a 37 run-win in the opener, before Viraj Gandhi’s 73 from 40 balls saw MCC win by three wickets with four balls remaining in the second.

As the action moved to Poços de Caldas, the women were then defeated by Brazil by 26 runs, before winning against their Under-19 side by the same margin. Taylor (72 not out) shone once again before Lovegrove (2 for 20) and Keely Juster (2 for 29) did the damage with the ball. 

The men beat Brazil Under-19s by six wickets, as Botha starred with bat and ball (31 and 3 for 20) to add to Oliver Birts’ 39. Their victory Sao Paulo CC in the final match completed a clean sweep of wins on tour – Gandhi’s 4 for 33, including a hat-trick, and Eddie Ballard’s 52 from 28 balls setting up a six-wicket victory. 
 

Away from the match action, there were various coaching sessions to aid the development of cricket in the country. With the work that MCC Foundation has done in the country with their pioneering Cricket Unites: Brazil partnership with Cricket Brazil and Cricket Without Boundaries, players coached beneficiaries of the MCCF’s work in Poços de Caldas, one of the main centres for cricket in the country which is home to the Cricket Brazil High Performance Centre.

Matt Featherstone, CEO of Cricket Brazil, said: “We feel very honoured at Cricket Brazil to have hosted the first ever MCC joint tour. It was a pleasure having them tour to three difference states in the country to show how Cricket Brazil is developing.

“During the 10 days, we made great friendships, played some fantastic cricket and most importantly, had a few days of high-class coaching from high-class athletes. We thank MCC for making a difference.’

James Overy, Head of Cricket Projects at MCC, said: “We are delighted to have completed another successful year of overseas tours. Trips to Portugal and Bulgaria preceded our first standalone trip to Zimbabwe, which included a first-class fixture, a first for the Club in several years. 

“However, the most pleasing trip saw the bringing together of the men’s and women’s sections of our fantastic Club for a first combined tour. Brazil was a fitting place to host such a trip, and we are thrilled to see the impact we have been able to have.”