Somerset’s bowlers shine with the bat before Hampshire’s top order offer resolute response

Somerset’s low order made Hampshire pay for a poor first innings total as Jack Leach, Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory all made fine contributions with the bat to play James Vince’s side out of the game.

This all came before Hampshire fought back superbly with the bat thanks to some dogged batting from Joe Weatherley (31*) and Ian Holland (19) before Tom Alsop (32) came in and played some eye-catching shots towards the end of the day, although Vince’s side still trail by 165 runs with eight wickets remaining going into the third day.

The away side resumed this morning on 142-5 with captain Tom Abell and nightwatchman Leach at the crease with Abell’s men in a promising position going into the second morning.

The intent was clear from Somerset instantly with Leach in particular taking a fancy to the Hampshire’ attack, one shot in particular stood out, a cover drive for four off Kyle Abbott in the opening couple of overs and this set the tone for what was to follow.

Abell didn’t stay too long at the crease, adding just a further 12 runs to his overnight total before he was the first victim of the day, clean bowled by Abbott to leave the score on 189-6.

The partnership with Leach had put his side firmly in control of the contest, by this point they already had a lead of over 100 on Hampshire.

This all allowed the likes of Steve Davies (33), Overton (74) and Gregory (33*) to bat with plenty of freedom, knowing that they had already achieved a substantial lead.

The innings continued an hour into the afternoon session before Keith Barker picked up the final wicket on his return to the side, seeing Josh Davey caught in the slips for seven, to claim impressive figures of 4-67 from 24 overs in his first outing of the season.

Barker’s form with the ball will encourage Vince moving forward with the side having been so reliant on Mohammad Abbas and Abbott in the opening games of the season, it gives them a different option moving forward.

All this meant that Hampshire had it all to do in their second innings, still 257 runs behind Somerset and the best part of two and half days of the game still remaining.

Holland and Weatherly once more opened up the innings for the home side, sharing 31 runs for the first wicket with Holland falling for 19 to get the side off to a solid start with the stand lasting for 24.1 overs, it was exactly what the team needed with so many overs still remaining in not only the day but the game as well.

Weatherley remained in until the close but Alsop fell just before the end for 32 as the side put some respectability on the board, after a horrid showing first time round.

With some bad weather around tomorrow, the home side have given themselves a fighting chance of getting something out of this game despite there still being two full days of play remaining.

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