Michael Clarke got the best hitout among Australia’s batsmen during the team’s seven-wicket World Cup win over Scotland, but admits he still felt a bit rusty in the middle.
The Australian skipper, who missed the start of the tournament as he recovered from hamstring surgery, on Saturday contributed 47 runs – the teams’ highest score – at Bellerive Oval as the hosts took less than 16 overs to chase down a poorly 131 for victory.
“I still felt a little bit rusty there with the bat,” Clarke admitted after the match.
In the lead up to the final group fixture the captain said he needed more time batting ahead of the team’s progression to the knockout finals stage.
Allrounders Shane Watson (24) and James Faulkner (16 not out) also needed more time at the crease, he said.
But with rain forecast over Hobart on Saturday, Clarke opted to bowl first after winning the toss and Australia were set a paltry chase, ruling out the opportunity for a long innings.
“Ideally I would have liked all three of us to get 100 each,” he said.
“If things worked out nicely it would have been ideal for us to spend as much time in the middle as possible.
“All three of us got a bat so that’s better than how it could have been.”
And Clarke said the squad is mentally ready and training well.
After a rain delay lasting more than 90 minutes Faulkner and David Warner (21) joined forces to seal victory with the former smacking a six to take Australia to 3-133.
Earlier, wrecking ball Mitchell Starc (4-14) joined fellow pacemen Pat Cummins (3-42) to decimate Scotland’s batting order.
The visitors were all out for 130 in the 26th over, with five batsmen dismissed without score, including captain Preston Mommsen.
“It was very disappointing,” Mommsen said of the result.
“At the same time it’s a good eye opener to see the world’s best and where the bar is at the very top.”
Scotland end their World Cup campaign with their lowest batting total for the tournament and without a win.
Starc’s performance sees him go to the top of the tournament’s wicket-taking tally, with 16 scalps.
“The ball is coming out nicely, I can’t complain at all,” the modest left-arm bowler told reporters of his performance.
The result sees Australia finish second in Pool A, with three wins, a washout and a loss to powerhouse side New Zealand.
The Aussies’ quarter final at Adelaide Oval on Friday will be against the winner of Sunday’s clash between Ireland and Pakistan.
