West Australian teenager Jordan Clark has produced a remarkable feat for Australia’s Under 16s, collecting five wickets - including a hat-trick - against Pakistan Under 16s in Dubai.
Clark claims hat-trick for Australia U16s
Western Australia teenager Jordan Clark has snared a hat-trick in a five-wicket haul for Australia's U16 in Dubai in their third ODI against Pakistan.
Clark, a right-arm seam bowler, collected 5-39 from his 7.1 overs to help dismiss Pakistan's U16s for 242.
"A hat-trick and five-for was the last thing I thought I'd end up with," Clark said.
"I hadn't bowled too well throughout the day, went quite expensively, then bowled this relatively good ball which the batsman missed.
"I kind of half-appealed, thought he may have it, but then next ball got him, he nicked off.
"Laws (wicket-keeper Lawson Eva) took a good catch behind the stumps. The new batsman came in and then it was the same again pretty much - same ball, same shot, same result.
"That was the end of my over, I had to wait - they were nine down while Juddy (Angus Judd) was bowling to the bloke on 100. He managed to get himself on strike for the hat-trick ball, I wasn't really backing myself in, but I also thought that I was a chance.
"I just went with the same plan, around the wicket and cleaned bowled him."
Clark is a product of the Albany Junior Cricket Association, located 4.5 hours south east of Perth.
He now plies his trade for Rockingham-Mandurah in WA's Premier competition, making the lengthy trip each week to play.
The 16-year-old said it had been an honour to represent his country.
"It means a lot to play for Australia," Clark said.
"So many kids would love to have this opportunity at this age, and only 13 of us are lucky enough to get this.
"To perform so well is just a bonus really, it just makes you feel even better and more lucky."
While Clark's haul wasn't enough to guide Australia to victory in their third one-day match against Pakistan, who took a 2-1 series victory.
Adapting to the conditions at the ICC Academy in Dubai has been tricky, but Clark is confident the Australians can bounce back in the T20 matches.
"It's probably just us boys going out and backing ourselves, just playing our natural games and not giving them easy wickets," he said.
"Just playing to what we've been told and taught and go 100 per cent, give it what we've got."