Forty wickets fell in less than two days and Comets all-rounder Vele Dukoski became just the third ACT player to take a hat-trick, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 43-run loss to Western Australia at Chisholm Oval on Tuesday.

The experiment of using the English Duke ball combined with a below-par pitch producing variable bounce resulted in a nightmare for batsmen.

The Comets were bowled out for 144 in pursuit of 188 to end the game after just 176 overs.

Comets coach Mark Higgs said anything more than 150 was going to be hard to chase as the conditions were in favour of the bowlers.

''It was a combination of the Duke ball and the wicket wasn't the up to the standard of a Futures League game,'' Higgs said.

''The Duke ball didn't get old and today the balls from the spinners went through the top.

''It played like a day-six wicket today and the ball was jumping around.''

It was the second Futures League round where a Duke ball was used to see if it can hold up under Australian conditions.

Holding a 54-run lead on the first innings, the Comets dismissed Western Australia on Tuesday for 241 to set a victory target of 188.

It was a chase they never got close to reaching, slumping to 7-90 before finishing on 144.

Comets spinner Shane Devoy claimed 5-70 in the second innings, while former Australian Test representative Michael Beer (4-82) and fast medium bowler Andrew Tye (4-23 and 10 wickets for the match) were just as devastating for the opposition.

Dukoski was the star of the first innings, taking a hat-trick among his 6-41 from 13 overs.

It was just the third hat-trick in ACT history behind Lorne Lees in 1933-34 v Wagga Wagga and David Thornton in 1996-97 against South Australia Country.

Dukoski knocked over Josh Inglis leg before wicket for a duck and Nathan Rimmington first ball before going to lunch on a hat-trick.

He had a nervous half an hour before getting Christian Smith caught behind.

''I don't think I ate, might have had some fruit,'' Dukoski said.

Scores: Western Australia 123 and 241 bt ACT Comets 177 and 144 by 43 runs at Chisholm Oval.