Hogg helps Scorchers restrict Heat in BBL

Brad Hogg again starred for the Perth Scorchers but Nathan Reardon at least helped the Brisbane Heat to a competitive 7-134 batting first in Thursday’s Big Bash League clash at the WACA Ground.

The Scorchers, the masters of defending small totals, were given the challenge of bowling first when Heat skipper James Hopes won the toss and elected to bat.

Brisbane have won just one of four games in this BBL campaign, but making good scores with the bat hasn’t been a problem so Hopes had every reason to be confident of that happening again.

However, Perth’s bowling again proved tough to get on top of for the Heat’s batsmen.

Only some late hitting from Nathan Reardon (52 off 40) and James Hopes (16 off 14) helped Brisbane to a competitive score after being 6-76 in the 14th over.

Hogg was the star for the Scorchers, with 2-14 from four overs, just two days after taking 2-11 in the win over the Adelaide Strikers in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Jason Behrendorff also claimed 2-28.

The Heat started well enough, being 0-28 after three overs, with good starts to James Peirson and Peter Forrest, but one wicket started a procession.

Spinner Ashton Turner was the first to strike for Perth, bowling Forrest for 12 before Peirson followed the next over for 20 when caught in the deep by Michael Carberry off Behrendorff.

Allrounder Simon Milenko came in for Brisbane, replacing the injured Dan Christian, but made just seven and, when Chris Lynn had come and gone for 14, the Heat were in trouble at 4-57 after 10 overs.

Lynn was Hogg’s first victim of the evening and then the 43-year-old spinner made sure Ben Cutting wouldn’t be getting away any lusty blows, dismissing him for one on the back of Andrew Flintoff scoring only seven.

Flintoff was hoping to get going with the bat for the first time in the BBL but the pace of Behrendorff was too much and his edge behind was accepted in spectacular fashion by Sam Whiteman.

Reardon and Hopes at least ensured the Heat have a total to defend to try to keep their finals hopes alive.

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