Big Bash League: Brad Hogg inspires Perth Scorchers to win on return
The veteran spinner takes two wickets in first game back from injury
Tuesday 6 January 2015 13:38, UK
Brad Hogg took 2-11 from a four over spell that turned the game and sent the Perth Scorchers on their way to an impressive 18-run win over the Adelaide Strikers.
The 43-year-old, who was such a key part of the Scorchers title-winning side last year, was playing in his first Big Bash game of the year and caused panic among the Strikers middle-order.
His first two overs went for just three runs and then, in his third, he had Travis Head (14) stumped before Alex Ross (0) was run out the very next ball when looking to get off strike.
That was the turning point in the Strikers chase of 133-6 as, with only half their wickets remaining, they couldn’t get close to the remaining 60 runs they needed from the final eight overs, with Hogg picking up another, Ryan ten Doeschate (4), in his final over.
Spin played a big part all game, with Ashton Agar pitching in with 2-24 from his four overs for the Scorchers and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-26) earlier impressing for the Strikers.
The Scorchers score on a decent Adelaide surface had initially looked too small to trouble the previously unbeaten Strikers.
When Michael Carberry (11) departed – edging Tim Ludeman behind the stumps off Zampa – they were only 44-3 after nine overs.
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Adam Voges played a crucial knock – an unbeaten 54 off 36 deliveries – but wickets continued to fall at the other end, with Shaun Tait (2-27) and Ben Laughlin (2-27) also impressing.
In defending the total, the Scorchers got rid of the Strikers’ dangermen at the top of the order – Ludeman, second-highest run-score in this year’s tournament, went for 22.
And their former Perth teammate, Craig Simmons (17), who did so much damage for the Scorchers last year, was stumped coming down the track to Agar.
At that stage Adelaide were only going along at a run a ball, and from there Hogg – with help from Andrew Tye (2-20) and Yasir Arafat (2-30) at the death – did the rest.
Watch the next Big Bash match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades live on Sky Sports 2 from 8am on Wednesday.
