The Costa Rica vs Brazil 5th Match of the Mexico T20I Tri-Series, 2026 takes place on April 4, 2026, at the Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan (Mexico City Metropolitan Area). This is the reverse fixture of the 3rd Match played on April 3. It is also the second-ever T20I between these two nations.
Both teams entered this tournament as underdogs to the dominant hosts, Mexico, who won both Day 1 matches comprehensively. For Brazil, this tournament is key preparation for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier A in Bermuda in June 2026. For Costa Rica, it is their first international cricket in almost a year. Live scores are available on ESPNcricinfo.
Match Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Costa Rica vs Brazil, 5th Match |
| Tournament | 11th Central American Cricket Championship 2026 |
| Date | April 4, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Time | 9:00 AM local / 3:00 PM GMT / 8:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan, México |
| Format | T20I |
| Context | Reverse fixture of 3rd Match (April 3) |
Tournament Story So Far
Day 1 Results (April 2): Mexico Dominates
Mexico won both matches on the opening day, asserting its authority as hosts.
| Match | Result | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Match: Mexico vs Brazil | Mexico won by 23 runs (Mexico 153/6, Brazil 130/4) | POM: Amir Butt (Mexico) |
| 2nd Match: Mexico vs Costa Rica | Mexico won by 124 runs (Mexico 204/5, Costa Rica 80/7) | POM: Dhananjaya Panda (Mexico) |
Day 2 Matches (April 3): Results to Update
| Match | Teams | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Match: Brazil vs Costa Rica | First-ever T20I between these teams | Played on April 3. Update the result when available. |
| 4th Match: Mexico vs Brazil | Reverse fixture | Played on April 3. Update the result when available. |
Note: By the time the 5th Match takes place, both Brazil and Costa Rica will have played 3 matches each. The Day 2 results will significantly shape the context of this game. Update this section with the 3rd and 4th Match results before publishing.
What We Know About Both Teams So Far
Brazil in This Tournament
Brazil’s 1st Match performance against Mexico showed both promise and problems.
The Good: Openers Luiz Muller (32) and Luis Morais (54 runs in the tournament) gave Brazil a strong start. Yasar Haroon (36) anchored the middle overs. At 113/2 in the 17th over, chasing 154, Brazil were in control.
The Bad: A death-overs collapse. Just 17 runs in the last 3 overs for 2 wickets. That inability to finish is Brazil’s biggest weakness in this tournament.
Leading T20I wicket-taker for Brazil in this event is Luiz Gabriel Moras with 2 wickets. Luis Rodrigues, their all-time leading T20I bowler (19 wickets), will also be key.
Costa Rica in This Tournament
Costa Rica had a brutal Day 1 against Mexico. Bowled out for 80/7 in 20 overs chasing 205. Top scorer Sudesh Pillai managed just 24 runs. Captain Sachin Ravikumar fell for 5.
The 124-run loss was heavy. But context matters. Costa Rica were playing their first international in almost a year. Their first competitive cricket match was against the tournament’s strongest team on their home ground. That is the toughest possible start.
Against Brazil, who are at a similar level, Costa Rica should be more competitive.
Confirmed Squads
Brazil Squad
Michel Assunção (c), Luiz Müller, Lucas Maximo, Chrystian Machado, Riquelmi Verni Nascimento, Willian Maximo, Breno Passoni, Gabriel Oliveira, Caique Cirino, Luiz Morais, Yasar Haroon, Luiz Augusto Gonçalves, Luiz Gabriel Moras, Felipe Muniz, Richard Avery
Costa Rica Squad
Sachin Ravikumar (c), Joel Cutinho, Badri Narayanan, Sudesh Pillai, Sham Murari, Pushkaraj Naringrekar, Suyog Wankhade, Amresh Tangella, Ashar Abbas, Shivam Kumar, Shiva K, Imran Kaneez, Yeudy Orozco, Sam Arthur, Joseph Ramkellawan
Key Players to Watch
For Brazil
Luiz Muller: Brazil’s all-time leading T20I run-scorer with 222+ runs. He got a start (32) in the 1st Match against Mexico. Brazil needs him to bat through the full 20 overs.
Luis Morais: The top run-scorer for Brazil in this tournament, with 54 runs from the Mexico match. Provides firepower at the top of the order.
Yasar Haroon: All-rounder who holds Brazil’s best T20I bowling figures (5/16 vs Panama, 2024). Scored 36 in the anchoring role against Mexico. His dual contribution could be the difference.
Luiz Gabriel Moras: Leading wicket-taker for Brazil in this tournament with 2 scalps. His bowling control in the middle overs is vital.
Riquelmi Nascimento: Young seamer who picked up a wicket in the 1st Match. His pace with the new ball can trouble top-order batters.
For Costa Rica
Sachin Ravikumar (c): The captain needs to lead from the front. His dismissal for 5 against Mexico set the tone for the collapse. A big score here would lift the entire team.
Sudesh Pillai: Costa Rica’s top scorer in the tournament with 24 runs. The most technically sound batter in the lineup.
Suyog Wankhade: Identified by CricketWorld as a potential six-hitter. If he connects on this high-altitude ground, the ball will travel.
Sham Murari: Predicted by analysts as a key bowler for Costa Rica. Can provide control with spin through the middle overs.
Ashar Abbas: Batted at No. 8 in the Mexico match and scored 10 off 14 balls. Showed more fight than most of the top order.
Why This Match Matters for Both Teams
For Brazil: 2028 Olympics Pathway
Brazil has a concrete goal beyond this tournament. They are preparing for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier A in Bermuda in June 2026. Every T20I they play is preparation for that event.
Beyond that, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature T20 cricket for the first time. As an ICC associate member, Brazil is eligible for the qualification pathway. Results in tournaments like this build ranking points and competitive experience.
For Costa Rica: Returning from Hibernation
Costa Rica’s last international assignment was the 10th Central American Championship in Panama in April 2025. That is a full year away from competitive cricket.
This tournament is about shaking off rust and getting back into the rhythm of international cricket. Even if results do not go their way, every over bowled and every innings played helps rebuild their competitive edge.
A win against Brazil would be a genuine boost. It would prove that the year away has not set them back too far.
Reforma Athletic Club: What We Know from Day 1
Key Takeaways from the First Two Matches
Batting first is an advantage. Both Day 1 matches were won by the team batting first. Mexico posted 153/6 and 204/5 in the two games.
150+ is a competitive total. Brazil posted 130 chasing 154 and fell short. Costa Rica managed just 80 chasing 205. Anything above 140 puts the chasing team under real pressure at this level.
The altitude factor is real. At 2,240 meters, the ball carries further. Mexico’s total of 204/5 against Costa Rica shows what is possible when batters adjust to the thin air.
Death overs decide matches. Brazil’s collapse (17 runs in the last 3 overs for 2 wickets vs Mexico) was the difference in the 1st Match. Teams that can accelerate at the death have a significant edge.
Early wickets are available. Mexico lost wickets at 5/1 and 18/2. The new ball does enough. Bowlers who hit good lengths can make inroads.
Head-to-Head: Costa Rica vs Brazil in T20Is
Before this tournament, these two teams had never played each other in any format. The 3rd Match on April 3 was their first-ever T20I meeting.
By the time this 5th Match takes place, both teams will have the result of the 3rd Match as a reference. The winner of that first encounter will carry a psychological edge into this reverse fixture. The loser will be desperate to level the brand-new bilateral record.
Update with the 3rd Match result before publishing.
How to Watch Costa Rica vs Brazil Live
There is no confirmed TV broadcast in India for this tournament. Here are your options:
- Live Scores: ESPNcricinfo and the ICC website provide ball-by-ball updates.
- Streaming: Check FanCode for possible coverage. Some associate events are picked up.
- Other Sources: CricTracker and CricketWorld provided reliable live scoring for the Day 1 matches.
Tournament Schedule: Remaining Matches
| Match | Date | Teams | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Match | April 2 | Mexico vs Brazil | Mexico won by 23 runs |
| 2nd Match | April 2 | Mexico vs Costa Rica | Mexico won by 124 runs |
| 3rd Match | April 3 | Brazil vs Costa Rica | Update result |
| 4th Match | April 3 | Mexico vs Brazil | Update result |
| 5th Match | April 4 | Costa Rica vs Brazil | This Match |
| 6th Match | April 4 | Mexico vs Costa Rica | Upcoming |
| Final | April 5 | TBD vs TBD | Upcoming |
The 5th Match is the morning game on Day 3. The 6th Match (Mexico vs Costa Rica) follows in the afternoon. Then the Final is on April 5 at 4:00 PM local time.
Both Brazil and Costa Rica will also play their second match of the day on April 4 (Costa Rica faces Mexico in the 6th Match in the afternoon). Fatigue management across two games will be a factor for both teams.
Match Prediction
This is the most evenly matched fixture in the tournament. Both teams are below Mexico in quality, making their head-to-head the most unpredictable contest.
Brazil has more T20I experience (15+ matches before this tournament), better individual stats (Muller: 222+ runs; Rodrigues: 19 wickets), and has played more competitive cricket recently (the Argentina tour in November 2025).
Costa Rica has been dormant for a year, but possesses the hunger of a team with nothing to lose. If their batters can handle the altitude and put up 130+, their bowlers can make it a contest.
Our Prediction: Brazil is the slight favorite based on experience and recent form. But the result of the 3rd Match will tell us more. If Costa Rica won that first encounter, the momentum would shift completely. If Brazil wins, they will back themselves to complete the double.
This is associate cricket. Both teams are capable of winning on any given day. Do not be surprised either way.
Costa Rica vs Brazil, 5th Match will be played on 4th April 2026
The Costa Rica vs Brazil 5th Match is the reverse fixture in a brand-new T20I rivalry. Both teams entered this tournament as underdogs, behind the dominant hosts, Mexico, and are fighting for relevance in the Mexico T20I Tri-Series, 2026. Brazil has more T20I experience and better individual performers.
Costa Rica is scrappy, hungry, and playing competitive cricket for the first time in a year. The result of the 3rd Match on April 4 will set the tone for this encounter. Whoever wins this 5th Match takes the bilateral bragging rights home. At the associate level, where every T20I result shapes the future of a cricket program, this match matters more than the scoreboard suggests.
