Hogan returns best on tedious final day

Glamorgan pace bowler Michael Hogan had a career-best 7 for 92 to celebrate on an otherwise tedious final day as the Division Two game against Gloucestershire ended in a draw at Bristol.

Hogan, the 32-year-old Australian, took 5 for 13 in 32 balls as Gloucestershire collapsed from an overnight 456 for four to 478 all out. Trailing by 30 after the first innings, Glamorgan eased to 176 for 2 declared second time around, with Will Bragg unbeaten on 71.

Gloucestershire went into the final day aiming to establish a lead of at least 130, according to skipper Michael Klinger, and put Glamorgan under a bit of pressure in their second innings. But those hopes rapidly disappeared as Hogan induced a remarkable collapse which saw the remaining six wickets tumble inside 47 minutes of the morning session.

Hogan struck with the opening ball of the day when Hamish Marshall chased a wide delivery and edged to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace for 27. New batsman James Fuller square cut his first delivery from Hogan to the boundary and had moved on to 9 when he tried to fend off a short delivery from and only succeeded in popping up a catch to Stewart Walters at point.

Hogan struck again in his next over when Benny Howell played across the line and was given out leg before wicket for 23. Teenager Miles Hammond, in his first County Championship innings, failed to get off the mark as he played back to Hogan and snicked a catch to Wallace.

Left-arm spinner Dean Cosker got in on the act when Craig Miles mistimed a sweep and lobbed a gentle catch up to Wallace. Then, in the next over, Hogan wrapped up the innings when David Payne was caught behind off a defensive edge to give Wallace his fifth victim of the innings.

It was the first time Hogan had taken seven wickets in an innings and just reward for 37 overs of hard graft by him on an unhelpful pitch.

His previous best return was 6 for 70, which he achieved for Western Australia against Tasmania at Hobart two years ago and also for Glamorgan against Essex at Cardiff this summer. It also capped a fine few days for Hogan, who made his best batting score of 51 in Glamorgan's first innings.

Glamorgan openers Ben Wright and Bragg took their side to 41 for no wicket at lunch and had moved the score on to 68 when the former was caught behind down the legside off Fuller for 33. Walters helped Bragg add 52 before he edged Howell to Gareth Roderick behind the stumps to depart for 14.

Bragg completed his half-century from 138 balls, with seven fours, and struck one more boundary before Glamorgan's declaration at 4.50pm brought the game to an end. Marcus North was unbeaten on 33, having added 56 for the third wicket with Bragg.