Most bowlers will go their entire career without taking a hat-trick.
But NSW quick Mitchell Starc has created history in taking two in the same match to fire the Blues to an incredible outright victory over Western Australia at Hurstville Oval.
The dramatic final day was the perfect way to celebrate Hurstville’s first ever Sheffield Shield clash as Western Australia collapsed on the final day. The Warriors were 0-179 in their second innings before losing all 10 wickets for just 44 runs late on Tuesday afternoon, including the last three in consecutive Starc deliveries.
It was the first time a player had ever claimed two hat-tricks in a single first-class match in Australia and only the third time an Australian had achieved the feat ever.
NSW had made 270 in their first innings with captain Steve Smith top-scoring with 76. In reply, Western Australia made 176, a deficit of 94 runs, with Starc’s first hat-trick on Monday ending the innings.
The Warriors had done well to battle back after St George quick Josh Hazlewood destroyed their top order taking 3-3 to have the visitors reeling at 3-8. The performance of the NSW bowling attack, likely to also be Australia’s bowling attack for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane later this month, overshadowed the effort of Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft who carried his bat making an unbeaten 76.
NSW went about setting Western Australia a daunting run chase, making 6-300 before Smith timed his declaration to perfection.
Smith found form with the bat heading into the Gabba Test making 127, while St George duo Kurtis Patterson (66) and Moises Henriques (45) provided strong middle order support.
Western Australia were cruising on Tuesday afternoon with Bancroft (86) and Shaun Marsh (91) setting up what looked like a tight run chase as the Warriors pursued 395 for victory.
At 0-179 and their openers set, along with the short Hurstville boundaries, Western Australia looked in the game approaching the tea break. But a rampant NSW surged, taking wicket after wicket to seal an incredible 171-run victory.
Starc’s second hat-trick to clean up the tail had a number of similarities to his first, with his fast in-swingers proving unplayable for the WA lower order.
The form of Starc, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will have England nervous ahead of the first Test.
"It's difficult for batters [to face], let alone tail-enders. To take two hat-tricks in a game ... most people are lucky to take one in their career. They're not easy to come by,” Smith told Fairfax Media.
"I thought (Hazlewood) bowled like an absolute genius, he's a superstar.
"Starcy, I think, has probably taken a little more time to get going and get some rhythm. But the back end of today showed why he's world-class. Patty Cummins has had a couple of good games as well. They're up and going and bowling really well."
