Veteran Hogan hits the top of the Glamorgan wicket-taking charts
SEAMER Michael Hogan became Glamorgan’s top wicket-taker in T20 cricket, but couldn’t prevent Surrey from sealing a narrow win at the Kia Oval on Friday.
The 40-year-old took five for 18 to move to 102 wickets for the Welsh county and almost caused a dramatic upset with a superb 19th over, but the home side were able to squeak home with one ball to spare on 174 for six.
Glamorgan had totalled 173 for five, with Sam Noertheast continuing his fine form with 65 and Chris Cooke adding 46.
“We were always a little bit behind the game after we started slowly (with the bat), we bowled quite well early on but if we’re honest we weren’t as slick in the field as we normally are,” said Hogan.
“It was a good fight by the lads, disappointing result and we weren’t quite just ‘on it.’
“It is what it is, different plans at different times, and in the shorter formats I’ve tended to get injured a bit, but it’s nice to be back and trying to execute my skills. My two five-fors have both been on the losing side, it would be nice to get one in a win.
“I’ve got to leave everything out there, when I announced it would be my final season, my commitment is still with the club until the last ball l bowl. I want to play as many games as I can and take as many wickets as I can for the club.”
Hogan was in fine form at The Oval as he added five more wickets to his tally, starting in his second over as he removed Jason Roy and Will Jacks in the space of three balls, before returning in the 15th over to claim his 100th wicket and equal Dean Cosker’s club record as Sam Curran swatted the evergreen seamer into Northeast’s hands at deep backward squareleg.
Australian Hogan then returned to deliver a superb final over – the 19th of the contest – and become Glamorgan’s most successful T20 bowler as Ollie Pope miscued another expansive drive to Northeast at backward point.
Two balls later, Jordan Clark holed out as Hogan claimed his 102nd victim and complete his second “five-for” in T20 cricket having claimed five for 17 against Gloucestershire at Cardiff in 2017.
Glamorgan complete their trio of away games today when they travel to Radlett to take on Middlesex (2.30pm).
The Welsh county name an unchanged squad which has recorded one win and one defeat so far.
GLAMORGAN: D Lloyd (c), C Cooke (wkt), K carlson, D Douthwaite, J Harris, M Hogan, C Ingram, M Labuschagne, M Neser, S Northeast, A Salter, P Sisodiya, J Weighell.