WHAT was supposed to have been a rest day turned out to be one of the most exciting games of cricket that Rockingham Mandurah Mariners fast bowler Jordan Clark has played.
Clark was representing Australia in the Under-16 international tournament in Dubai when he claimed a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul in the third of six games against Pakistan.
“I was meant to be rested, but I was a late inclusion in the team,” the 16-year-old speedster said. “I was pretty stoked about getting a hat-trick and five wickets.”
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READ NOWClark finished with figures of 5-39 off 7.1 overs, wrapping up a hat-trick in the 42nd and 44th overs.
Firstly, he had Pakistan U16s captain Aarish Ali caught behind by Lawson Eva, with Nasim Shah dismissed in the same fashion next ball.
After having to wait until his next over to bowl the hat-trick ball, Clark rattled the stumps of centurion Ruhail Nazir to close out the Pakistan innings.
“I ran in and bowled him around his legs,” he said.
“I had got him out a couple of times before that and he’s a fairly good batsman.”
Nazir’s innings guided Pakistan to a total of 242 all out, and the Australian U16s could only muster 114 in reply.
Pakistan wrapped up a 5-1 series victory across three one-day and three T20 matches.
But Clark said it was a great experience and he learnt a lot during the tournament.
“The Pakistanis play cricket so differently to us,” he said.
“They play their shots differently and have a lot more spinners.”
Clark lives in Albany and travels up to the Perth metropolitan region to play for the Mariners every weekend.
“I want to play at the highest level I can and give everything I’ve got,” he said.
He said he would love the opportunity to play for Australia again and was stoked to be chosen for the Under-16 team.
His favourite bowlers are Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Clark was weary last weekend and didn’t play for the Mariners after a marathon 21-hour flight back from Dubai to Perth, via Sydney where the Australian players went their separate ways last Friday.
“I’ll be back into it next weekend,” he said.