Mitchell Starc’s Spectacular Hat-Trick in Warm-Up Match Sets the Stage Ablaze for Australia

In a sensational display of fast bowling prowess, Australia’s Mitchell Starc ignited the World Cup warm-up match against the Netherlands with a stunning hat-trick. The clash, held at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, witnessed Starc’s brilliance as he defended a modest target of 167 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter.

Mitchell Starc: Hat-trick Hero 

Starc announced his intent right from the outset, striking in the very first over of the match. He trapped Netherlands’ opener Max O’Dowd in front of the stumps with a late inswinger that caught the right-hander in an awkward position. The umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger, sending O’Dowd back to the pavilion.

With the crowd still buzzing from his first wicket, Starc unleashed another inswinger on the very next ball, leaving Wesley Barresi’s defence shattered. Barresi, in a tentative forward prod, saw his off-stump rattled by Starc’s searing delivery, resulting in a golden duck.

Having secured two wickets in two balls, Starc embarked on his next over with the prospect of a hat-trick in sight. As he started his run-up, a broad smile graced his face, signalling his confidence. True to form, Starc delivered a full, fast inswinger that left Bas de Leede far too late in getting his bat down. The ball crashed into the middle stump, completing a sensational hat-trick.

Hat-trick Not Recorded 

As Starc achieved this remarkable feat, the entire crowd erupted in a frenzy of excitement and applause. The fast bowler acknowledged the gratitude of the spectators, who were treated to an unforgettable moment of cricketing brilliance.

While Mitchell Starc’s hat-trick was a highlight of the warm-up match, it won’t be officially recognized by the ICC, as warm-up games do not receive official international recognition. Nevertheless, Starc’s performance showcased his incredible skills and set the stage for a thrilling World Cup ahead.

In the rain-affected encounter, Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first. However, they could only manage a total of 166 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. A surprising move saw Steve Smith opening the batting and top-scoring for the Aussies with a composed 55 runs off 42 balls.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram