St John`s (Antigua), March 29: Brad Hogg may have snared West Indies star batsman Brian Lara but the engaging left-arm wrist spinner believes he was bowling better before the World Cup started.
Windies skipper Lara was all that stood between Australia and victory in their opening Super Eights clash and even while the gifted left-hander was at the crease the odds were stacked firmly against the World Cup hosts.
But any lingering hopes of a surprise victory here ended when Hogg had Lara lbw for 77 after the batsman missed a full length delivery as he tried to dab the ball down behind third man. That left West Indies 156 for six in pursuit of 323 and there was no way back from that position as world champions Australia completed a 103-run victory, with Hogg taking threefor 56 in his full quota of 10 overs.
"It`s always good to bowl against the best players in the world - and Brian Lara`s one of the best we`ve probably ever seen," the 36-year-old former postman told reporters after yesterday`s victory.
"It gives you the best challenge you could ever face," added Hogg, who in 99 one-day internationals has taken 123 wickets at an average of just under 28 apiece. Hogg went six one-day games for Australia without a wicket before taking two for 28 in the five-wicket World Cup warm-up win against England at St Vincent on March 9.
And they were two important wickets at that – Hogg removing the innings top scorers in England captain Michael Vaughan (62) and Ian Bell (56). "I reckon I was bowling better before the tournament started than I am now. But it`s just funny how the wickets drop for you," said hosts – the first two split by an Australian record 78 games.
But before he got Lara out, Hogg saw the master batsman, the leading run scorer in test match history, hit him for a superb six down the ground over long-off. "He`d hit me over the fence a couple of times; then you beat him in the flight and nearly get him caught," said the Western Australian.
"That was a bit frustrating, and i was just making sure he wasn`t going to hit me over the fence again."
Bureau Report
