Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has shown red-hot form ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 as he claimed a hat-trick in the warm-up game against the Netherlands. Starc cleaned up the top order of the Dutch side with a fiery spell with the new ball in the rain-affected contest.
The Australia vs Netherlands warm-up clash was delayed due to consistent rain in Trivandrum on September 30. The game was eventually shortened to 23 overs per side and the Aussie side posted a total of 166-7 after opting to bat first.
Netherlands had batted only for 14.2 overs after which the warm-up game was called off due to another spell of rain which didn’t allow the game to resume.
Mitchell Starc’s Hat-trick vs Netherlands sends warning signal ahead of World Cup 2023
Starc came in to bowl the first over with the new ball and straightaway found some movement off the track. On the 5th delivery of the over he bowled a sharp incoming delivery to Max O’Dowd which went on to crash his pads and the Netherlands’ batter was adjudged LBW.
On the next delivery, the Aussie pacer went for the inswinger again and bowled an almost unplayable delivery. Wesley Barresi was beaten with the pace and the movement as the ball dislodged the off-stump.
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Mitchell Starc then came in to bowl the 3rd over and set himself to grab a hat-trick. Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede couldn’t do much on the very first delivery as the left-arm pacer went for a fast yorker that crashed the middle stump.
The Aussie pacer eventually finished with the figures of 3-18 in his three-over spell. Mitchell Starc’s hat-trick against the Netherlands must have sent a warning signal to all the opponent sides who’ll have to face him with the new ball during the World Cup 2023.
The Dutch side were placed at a score of 84-6 in 14.2 overs when rain decided to play the spoilsport. The game couldn’t resume and the umpires had to call it off.
The Aussie side will now face Pakistan in their second warm-up match on October 3 against Pakistan in Hyderabad. On the other hand, the Netherlands will face Team India in their second warm-up clash on October 3 in Thiruvananthapuram.
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The Dutch side will face Pakistan in their first league game in the World Cup 2023 on October 6 in Hyderabad while Australia will take on the Indian Team on October 8 in Chennai.