Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has given warning signals ahead of the World Cup. Playing against the Netherlands in a warm-up match, the left-arm pacer claimed a hat-trick as the Dutch top-order was blown away by sheer brilliance of Starc. Earlier in the match, the Aussies batted first to post 166/7 in 23 overs in a rain-curtailed game in Thiruvananthapuram.
Starc bamboozled Netherlands top-order
Taking the new ball, Starc scalped the opening wicket in form of Max ODowd as the opening batter was trapped infront of the wickets. Next, Wesley Barresi was cleaned up by Starc as he reached the hat-trick ball. Young all-rounder Bas de Leede failed to connect the ball as senior Australian pacer hit the timber once again to claim a hat-trick and leave the opposition side in a state of bother.
Earlier, in the match, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. Steven Smith and Josh Inglis came out to open the innings, but Inglis failed to settle in the middle, departing for a duck after playing 3 balls. Alex Carey joined Smith at number three, and the duo started scoring at a decent pace.
The pair added a 50+ run partnership for the second wicket, and Carey departed after contributing 28 runs off 25 balls. Glenn Maxwell failed to make an impact with the bat in the warm-up game and fell prey to Shariz Ahmad after scoring five runs.
Smith continued his merry ways and went on to notch up his half-century off just 37 balls, but failed to convert it into a big score, getting stumped out for 55 runs. Cameron Green paired up with Mitchell Starc, who was sent to bat at number six to have some batting practice ahead of the World Cup.
Starc swung his bat here and there but struggled to time the ball well, while Green played a few elegant shots and departed after contributing 34 runs off 26 balls. Pat Cummins and Matthew Short fell cheaply. Marnus Labuschagne came out to bat at number nine and he remained unbeaten on 3 runs, while Starc played an unbeaten innings of 24 runs, helping Australia cross the 165-run mark.
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