Mitchell Starc's second hat-trick of the match capped an unbelievable Sheffield Shield match that saw the Aussie skipper hit form with a ton
Match Report:
ScorecardStarc, Smith prove too strong for Warriors
Test paceman Mitchell Starc claimed a second hat-trick of the JLT Sheffield Shield match to bowl NSW to a 171-run victory against Western Australia.
The Warriors innings went into freefall at Sydney's Hurstville Oval after Test aspirant Shaun Marsh was dismissed in the last over before tea for 91, wafting at a wide ball to edge behind.
Chasing 395, WA lost 10-44 to be dismissed for 223 to give NSW a second win from as many Shield matches.
Fellow Test hopeful Hilton Cartwright collected a pair and lasted just 11 balls across the two innings.
Starc had been wicketless until he mopped up the Warriors' tail for the second straight day.
It was the first time in first-class cricket in in Australia that a bowler had taken two hat-tricks in the one game.
Two other Australians, Albert Trott and Jim Matthews, achieved the feat in England.
Trott did it for Middlesex in a county game and Matthews in a Test against South Africa in Manchester in a triangular Test series.
Starc had Jason Behrendorff caught behind and bowled David Moody with the last two balls of his 15th over.
He then had Jonathan Wells caught in the slips by captain Steve Smith with the first ball of his next over, as NSW secured a dramatic win with almost ten overs to spare.
Strong appeal this from Pat Cummins and the NSW cordon. Run chase LIVE: https://t.co/VCwVM6uFsO #SheffieldShield #NSWvWA pic.twitter.com/fNxjjKV1aP
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 7, 2017
The other wickets were shared and the earlier damage done by Starc's three Test colleagues, paceman Josh Hazlewood (3-49) and Pat Cummins (2-52) and spinner Nathan Lyon (2-56).
Earlier on Tuesday, Smith posted his 34th first-class century, striking 17 fours and a six to get 127 off 167 balls.
The Blues added 134 in 95 minutes before Smith declared at 6-300.
Smith put on 140 with Kurtis Patterson (66) and 85 with Moises Henriques (45) for the third and fourth wickets respectively.
NSW: David Warner, Nic Maddinson, Steve Smith (c), Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon. Trent Copeland (12th man).
WA: Shaun Marsh, Cameron Bancroft (wk), Hilton Cartwright, Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Turner, Jonathan Wells, D'Arcy Short, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, David Moody, Simon Mackin. Joel Paris (12th man).