ODI World Cup 2023: Starc’s hat-trick in useless as rain abandons Australia vs Netherlands warm-up match

The floor employees on the Greenfield International Stadium had a herculean process on Saturday. As it rained incessantly till afternoon, the toss was delayed; the Australian workforce didn’t flip up on the venue – anticipating that there received’t be a sport.

When the rain stopped – round 4 o’clock – the bottom employees stormed into motion. The tremendous sopper was introduced in, the puddles on the outfield have been cleared and by the point the clock turned six, the bottom was prepared.

Starting 5 hours behind the schedule, the warm-up fixture between The Netherlands and Australia forward of the ODI World Cup was lowered to a 23-over-a-side affair, however the latter rode on Steve Smith’s gritty half-century (55, 42b, 4×4, 3×6) and Mitchell Starc’s hat-trick (3 for 18) to dominate the night earlier than a late-night torrential rain led to the abandonment of the fixture and not using a consequence.

Australia rested just a few gamers and it was a final alternative to check its bench energy, and the five-time ODI World Cup-winning aspect could be glad with this train. Opting to bat, it experimented fairly a bit – selling Smith to open the innings, whereas bringing in Marnus Labuschagne at No. 9 – however nonetheless, Australia managed to place up 166 for 7, earlier than Starc ripped aside The Netherlands’ top-order.

The Dutchmen crumbled in opposition to Starc’s in-swingers and sheer tempo and have been reeling at 84 for six when rain introduced an abrupt finish to the sport. However, its bowlers did a commendable job earlier within the night, proscribing Australia to a modest whole.

Also learn | ODI World Cup 2023: Mitchell Starc takes hattrick in opposition to Netherlands in warm-up match

Smith opened the innings with Josh Inglis, however the transfer backfired because the latter was cleaned up by Logan van Beek on a duck. As the Dutchmen celebrated the early success, Smith rebuilt the innings with a 57-run stand with Alex Carey. Smith initially rotated the strike with singles, whereas Carey pushed the pedal – hitting a 4 and 6 off Aryan Dutt and Van Beek respectively.

Australia cruised till the eighth over, earlier than the seasoned van der Merwe crashed Carey’s off-stump, and The Netherlands obtained one other success as Glenn Maxwell, too, fell rapidly.

But Smith didn’t lose the plot. He upped his sport and hammered three sixes – off the spinners – and stitched a much-needed 35-run stand with Alex Carey (28, 25b, 3×4, 1×6). They appeared to be in no hurry to attain runs, and performed by the advantage of the ball. Smith stored the scoreboard ticking with singles and twos earlier than being stumped off a van der Merwe supply – shortly after reaching his half-century. Once Smith was again within the dugout, The Netherlands put up a miserly bowling show, permitting Australia’s decrease middle-order to attain solely 65 runs in 9 overs.

The Netherlands had hopes of chasing down the overall, however Starc gave them a actuality examine – dismissing Max O’Dowd and Wesley Barresi in two consecutive deliveries within the opening over. He jolted additional on the primary ball of his second over, rattling Bas de Leede’s midddle-stump to finish his hat-trick.

With its top-order folding up early, The Netherlands reeled beneath strain. Though Colin Ackermann took an effort to rebuild, he fought a lone battle.