Starc sends warning with Shield hat-trick
CRICKET: Mitchell Starc has geared up for the Ashes by taking a breathtaking Sheffield Shield hat-trick at Hurstville Oval.
The Australian spearhead scorched through the West Australian lower order to finish with figures of 4-56, claiming his first ever hat-trick for NSW.
Starc cleaned up tail-enders Jason Behrendorff, David Moody and Simon Mackin in successive deliveries, before pumping the air in jubilation.
WA were bowled out for 176, giving NSW a 94-run first-innings lead.
Cameron Bancroft put his name forward for Ashes Test selection by becoming just the second West Australian to ever carry his bat through an innings, finishing with 76 not out off 187 balls.
Bancroft is WA’s keeper, although his lack of keeping experience at first-class level would make him an extreme smoky to take the gloves for the first Test.
However, with 10 first-class hundreds to his name it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Bancroft could make a charge for the vacant No.6 position or perhaps provide an option as an opener.
Thunderstorms threaten the rest of day three, but Starc provided the lightning.
It’s the first NSW hat-trick since Doug Bollinger in 2014-15 and the 19th in the history of the Blues in Sheffield Shield cricket.
It follows on from Starc taking six South Australian wickets in an innings last week.
In NSW’s second innings opener David Warner continued his poor run of form, scoring only five for the second time in the match.
At Bellerive Oval, Matthew Renshaw took 109 balls to reach 19 before losing his wicket as Queensland chased down 158 to win inside three days over Tasmania.
Captain Usman Khawaja, on the other hand, was more fluent, hitting 28 not out to see his side to victory by seven wickets.
At the MCG, the son of Australia coach Darren Lehmann, Jake Lehmann, followed up his 103 in the first innings against Victoria with 93 in the second dig to give selectors another nudge before the Ashes.
Meanwhile, England begin their second tour match at the Adelaide Oval with a four-day pink-ball clash against a Cricket Australia XI starting tomorrow.