Australia and the Netherlands played out a rain-affected encounter at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. After persistent rain, play finally started with the match being reduced to a 23 overs a side contest.
Australia after opting to bat posted 166 for seven in their 23 overs and in response Netherlands were at 84 for six after 14.2 overs when rain stopped play and the game ended with no result.
Earlier, Australia's innings was helped by Steven Smith's 55 off 42 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Smith put on 57 runs for the second wicket with Alex Carey.
Later handy knocks by Cameron Green (34) and Mitchell Starc (24*) swelled Australia's score to 166 for seven in their 23 overs. For the Netherlands, the best bowlers were Logan van Beek (2-35), Roelof van der Merwe (2-12) and Bas de Leede (2-25).
In their response, the Netherlands were reduced to 15 for four. The top order was ripped out by Starc. The left-arm fast bowler claimed a hat-trick as he dismissed the first three batters including Max O'Dowd, Wesley Barresi and de Leede. Then there was a 31-run stand for the fifth wicket between Sybrand Engelbrecht and skipper Scott Edwards.
Colin Ackermann top-scored with an unbeaten 31 off 37 balls with three boundaries. Play ended with the score at 84 for six in 14.2 overs as heavy rains interrupted play. For Australia, the best bowler was Starc (3-18).
Earlier, the India vs England warm-up match was also called off due to unstoppable rain in Guwahati.
Not a single ball could be bowled for today's encounter as the rain, which started right after the toss, did not stop all day, eventually forcing the match umpires to call it off.
India had won the toss and opted to bat first during their first warm-up match of the ICC World Cup 2023 against England at the Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.
Sunday is a break in the tournament, the warm-up matches will resume on Monday.
Remaining ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up games
Monday 2 October
England v Bangladesh, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
New Zealand v South Africa, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Tuesday 3 October
Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
India v Netherlands, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Pakistan v Australia, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
After the conclusion of the warm-up fixtures, the tournament opener will be played in Ahmedabad on October 5, with England and New Zealand clashing in a re-match of the 2019 final.
