CWC 2023 warm-ups round-up: Starc takes hat-trick, India v England washed out

India vs England

No result (abandoned with a toss)

India won the toss and elected to bat first in Guwahati. Around five minutes before the start of the game, the heavens opened up and did not relent.

Soon enough, the ground was covered in several wet patches. The cut-off time for a 20-over contest was 7.30 pm local time, for which the ground staff would have required at least 90 minutes to get the ground ready.

With rain showing on signs of stopping any time soon, both teams left for their hotels before the match was officially called off. The final announcement came at around 5.45 pm.

The fans who had turned up at the Barsapara Stadium had to go back disappointed. They were promised a full refund by the authorities.

Australia vs Netherlands

No result

Another rain-affected game in Thiruvananthapuram ended without a result. After a long delay, the match was cut short to a 23-over contest which began around 7 pm local time.

Steve Smith opened for Australia and scored a brisk 42-ball 55. Contributions from Alex Carey (28 off 25), Cameron Green (34 off 26), and Mitchell Starc (24 off 22) took Australia past 160.

The Dutch bowlers held their own nicely, ensuring Australia did not get close to 200. Roelof van der Merwe was the pick of them, taking 2-12 from three overs. Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede took two wickets apiece as well.

In response, the Netherlands were rocked early by a Starc storm. The last two balls of the first over saw Max O’Dowd and Wesley Barresi walk back for golden ducks beforehe returned to clean up De Leede with a perfect inswinging yorker to complete a hat-trick.

At 15-4, it looked like the game was heading towards an early finish before Colin Ackermann stitched partnerships with Sybrand Engelbrecht and Scott Edwards to take the Dutch beyond 75.

Another spell of rain meant the match had to be called off at the 14.2 over mark with Netherlands’ score reading 84-6.