Watch: Mitchell Starc announces his entry with a thundering hat-trick vs NED in the warmup game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Mitchell Starc started the warmup game with a hat-trick against Netherlands in a rain-hit game in Thiruvananthapuram.

The warm-up matches are underway, and all ten teams that will participate in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will play two warm-up games each. Though the rain has affected the schedule of warm-up games, fans have seen some cricket around. There were two games supposed to be played on Saturday. The game between India and England in Guwahati got completely washed out after toss.

The second game between Australia and Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram started with a delay due to rain. It started with a 23-over per side, but still, the complete match couldn't be done. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The five-time champions made some experiments with their batting order, and Steve Smith and Josh Inglis opened the batting.

Watch: Mitchell Starc takes hat-trick vs Netherlands in warmup game in Trivandrum

Smith played a good innings of 55 runs off 42 balls. Alex Carey (28), Cameron Green (34) and Mitchell Starc (24*) also contributed well. Australia ended the first innings at 166/7 in 23 overs. It was a decent effort with the ball by Netherlands. At the time of the break, it looked like that Netherlands could chase it down. However, Mitchell Starc had something else on his mind.

The veteran pacer demolished the Dutch top-order and took a hat-trick. He dismissed Max O'Dowd LBW for a golden duck on the fourth ball of the first over, which brought Wesley Barresi to the crease. Starc bowled an in-swinging delivery that crashed on the stumps, and Barresi also got out for a golden duck on the last ball of the first over.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

Then, Mitchell Starc dismissed Bas de Leede for a golden duck on the first ball of his next over with an in-swinging Yorker to complete his hat-trick. Netherlands were 12/3 in 2.1 overs and never looked in control against the disciplined Australian bowling attack. They were at 84/6 in 14.2 overs when the rain came and the match was called off.