Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

WC PIX: Starc five-for trumps Boult hat-trick as Aus beat NZ

Last updated on: June 30, 2019 02:15 IST

Images from the World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday.

Aaron Finch

IMAGE: Mitchell Starc celebrates taking the wicket of Tom Latham. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Trent Boult became the first New Zealand bowler to claim a hat-trick in the World Cup but it could not stop champions Australia still cruising to an 86-run victory in Saturday's rematch of the 2015 final between the trans-Tasman rivals at Lord's.

 

Trent Boult

IMAGE: Trent Boult celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Jason Behrendorff. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Boult dismissed Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff in successive deliveries but Australia, who had been reeling at 92-5 in the 22nd over, managed to post a competitive 243-9 after electing to bat.

It turned out that each of Boult's three hat-trick victims played significant part in Australia's victory.

Alex Carey

IMAGE: Alex Carey of Australia celebrates fifty. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Khawaja (88), who was dropped at slip before he could open his account, and Alex Carey (71) had combined to arrest their slide before Bolt (4-51) wrecked their lower order.

Behrendorff then dealt early blows before Starc spearheaded New Zealand's rout, claiming 5-26 as the Kiwis were shot out for 157 in the 44th over with not one of their players managing a half-century.

Aaron Finch

IMAGE: Australia skipper Aaron Finch celebrates. Photograph: Cricket World Cup/Twitter

Australia, who had already secured a place in the semi-finals, remain on top with 14 points from eight matches, three points ahead of India who have played six.

New Zealand remain third with 11 points from eight matches.

Usman Khawaja

IMAGE: Australia's Usman Khawaja bats. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Earlier, Aaron Finch's decision to bat first appeared to backfire as Boult dismissed the in-form Australia captain in the fifth over.

The champions lost four more wickets before reaching 100 but it could easily have been worse if Martin Guptill had not spilled Khawaja in the slips when the batsman was yet to open his account.

Carey and Khawaja then rebuilt the Australian innings with a sixth-wicket stand of 107, which Kane Williamson broke when he had Carey caught at cover.

Boult claimed the tournament's second hat-trick, after India's Mohammed Shami achieved the feat against Afghanistan, but Australia put enough on board for their bowlers.

Mitchell Starc

IMAGE: Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The Australians bowled with lot of purpose and Behrendorff denied New Zealand a strong start, dismissing both the openers, Henry Nicholls and Guptill, cheaply.

Key batsman Williamson and Ross Taylor (30) tried to steady the innings but the wheels came off their innings after the Kiwi captain's attempt to play his trademark dab shot resulted in his dismissal for 40.

Starc then mowed down the New Zealand lower order to consolidate his position as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 victims.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.