Mitchell Starc Hat Trick : Australia’s World Cup warm-up against the Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram ended in a draw, but the five-time champions had plenty to celebrate on Saturday. Read the report given below to find out how the typical Mitchell Starc hat trick takes place in Australia vs Netherlands warm up game.
Steve Smith’s classy half-century and Mitchell Starc’s hat-trick resulted in a rain-soaked squib at the Greenfield Stadium, while Mitchell Marsh got some much-needed games under his belt ahead of the marquee tournament.
After the match was shortened to 23 balls due to rain, Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first as Smith smashed a 42-ball 55, including three sixes.
The Dutch bowlers showed their quality, restricting Australia to 7-166 from their 23 overs. Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Matthew Short all fell cheaply, while Cameron Green made 34 (26) under cloudy lights. Starc got the new ball around the corner early on and tore through the Dutch top order with a typical Mitchell Starc hat trick.
The left-hander was left on the pads by opener Max O’Dowd in the fifth over of the match before producing an absolute peach that beat the inside edge of Wesley Barres and fell against the off-stump.
Starc completed his hat-trick in the next over when Bas de Leede hit a hand-hit yorker. The NSW didn’t have wild parties, but smiled cheekily.
Marsh, uncapped in his previous 10 ODIs, took 1-24 from 4.2 in promising signs for Western Australia, while Marnus Labuschagne picked up a wicket with his leg. Holland battled to 6-84 from the 15th over before the dreaded rain returned and the match ended goalless. Colin Ackermann made an unbeaten 31st (37), while captain Scott Edwards (14 from ten balls) was the only Dutchman to reach double figures.
Australia next travel to Hyderabad to face Pakistan in the final warm-up game on Tuesday.
