Steve Smith, Starc star in rain-hit warm-up match ahead of the 50-overs World Cup

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Australia batsman Steve Smith scored a half-century before pacer Mitchell Starc bagged a hat-trick to rip through the Netherlands top order in a rain-affected warm-up game in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday night ahead of the 50-overs World Cup. In a clash delayed due to a wet outfield and reduced to 23 overs per side, five-times champions Australia rode on opener Smith's 55 and Cameron Green's 34 lower down to post 166-7.

But rain returned with the Netherlands in trouble at 84-6 from 14.2 overs and the game was eventually called off. The Dutch, who are set to appear at a fifth World Cup and their first since 2011, were rattled as Starc (3-18) removed Max O'Dowd and Wesley Barresi in the final two deliveries of the opening over and castled Bas de Leede in his next.

All three batsmen fell for first-ball ducks as Starc showed no signs of rust having recently returned to the starting eleven following a groin injury. Agencies

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