Australia’s bowling all-rounder Mitchell Starc was sent ahead of skipper Pat Cummins to provide the left-right combination as they suffered a collapse in the run chase against Afghanistan. The need of the hour was to provide support to Glenn Maxwell as Australia had lost six wickets for 87 runs in the 17th over. A partnership was needed but then Starc got out in a bizarre manner.
In the 19th over, Rashid Khan bowled a wrong one. It looked like there was an outside edge off the bat. There was a sound as well and Ikram Alikhil took a screamer. After the catch was taken, Starc had a conversation with Maxwell about whether he should take the review or not. Usually, the batter knows whether he has hit the ball or not.
As he returned to the dressing room, the ultraedge showed that there was no outside edge off Starc’s bat and the sound was that of the ball flicking the off stump. Starc was left disappointed as his wicket was crucial.
The left-handed batter departed after scoring just seven runs. Australia were reduced to 91/7 in the 19th over of the innings.
Earlier, Starc conceded 70 runs from the nine overs he bowled. He took the wicket of Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. He was expensive in the slog overs. He conceded two sixes and a four off the final over as Rashid wreaked havoc with an 18-ball 35 cameo.
The only wicket Starc took helped him surpass legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram. Starc has 26 wickets, the most by a left-arm bowler in World Cups.
Earlier in the tournament, he became the second Australian after Glenn McGrath to take 50 or more wickets in World Cups. Currently, he is the third-highest wicket-taker in World Cup history. He has 59 wickets to his name from 26 innings including three fifers. McGrath is on top with 71 wickets followed by Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran who has 68 wickets.
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