Australia vs Netherlands: A Rain-Interrupted Encounter
Toss Decision: Australia Chose to Bat First
Match Outcome: Game Abandoned Due to Rain
After a rain-marred clash between South Africa and Afghanistan, Thiruvananthapuram finally witnessed some cricketing action in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup warm-up matches. However, the weather continued to play spoilsport, limiting the game to a 23-over per side contest.
Australia, having recently played three games in India and acclimated to the conditions, decided to shuffle their batting line-up, providing their lower order an opportunity to wield the willow.
Steve Smith and Josh Inglis opened the innings, but Inglis was sent back early by a beautiful inswinger from Logan van Beek. Smith, however, launched an aggressive assault, scoring a quickfire 55 off 42 balls, studded with four boundaries and three sixes.
Australia suffered a minor setback, losing Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell to the spin of Roelof van der Merwe and Shariz Ahmad. Mitchell Starc, batting at number six, showcased his batting prowess with an unbeaten 24 off 22 balls, while skipper Pat Cummins couldn’t replicate the feat.
Cameron Green added some much-needed momentum to the innings with a brisk 34 off 26 balls, helping Australia post a competitive 166/7 in 23 overs.
In response, the Netherlands were left reeling by a fiery spell from Mitchell Starc, which included a spectacular hat-trick. Starc dismissed three batsmen for golden ducks with almost identical in-swingers, first trapping Max O’Dowd before dismantling the stumps of Wesley Barresi and Bas de Leede.
Mitchell Marsh dismissed Vikramjit Singh soon after, and the Netherlands struggled to recover from the early blows. Colin Ackermann and Scott Edwards were the only batsmen to reach double figures, preventing a complete collapse.
Just as the match was reaching a conclusion, rain made an unwelcome return in the 14th over, leading to the abandonment of the match with the Netherlands at 84/6.
The Netherlands will continue their warm-up campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, facing India on Tuesday, 3 October. Meanwhile, Australia will travel to Guwahati to take on Pakistan on the same day.
India vs England: A Washout Without a Single Ball Bowled
Match Outcome: Match Abandoned Due to Rain
The warm-up match between India and England in Guwahati was called off without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain. The only action of the day was the toss, won by Rohit Sharma, who elected to bat first.
However, the rain started pouring just as the players were preparing to take the field and didn’t let up.
Both teams will be eager to get some match practice before the World Cup commences in the second round of warm-up matches. England will stay in Guwahati to face Bangladesh on 2 October, while India will travel to Thiruvananthapuram to take on the Netherlands.