Sublime Somerset defeat Hampshire by 10 wickets on a well battled fourth day

Somerset managed to take a well deserved 10-wicket victory after a stubborn Hampshire second innings performance at the Ageas Bowl. 

It was James Vince 5 (11) and Joe Weatherley 34 (169), who started at the crease on the final day of this match, after yesterday’s play only featuring 10 overs. Hampshire knew there they would have to fight hard if they were going to get the draw they were desperate for.

Hampshire started the morning session very well, frustrating the Somerset bowlers. Weatherley and Vince forced them to bowl straight and left anything that is wide of that line. Somerset had a huge LBW shout turned down by the umpire, which was a very tight call but looked to be just missing leg stump.

Somerset captain Tom Abell brought Josh Davey into the attack after an aggressive opening spell from Craig Overton. Davey repaid his captain’s decision by getting the key wicket of Weatherley, the opener spending almost 5 hours at the crease making 44 off 209 deliveries. Weatherley edged through to wicket-keeper Steven Davies, who was stood up at the stumps.

Davey then managed a second with a brilliant delivery to nipping back into the pads of Liam Dawson, who was caught plumb in front with the all-rounder offering no shot. Dawson walked for 0, making it a pair in the match, the second of his career.

After Dawson’s dismissal, which was an hour before the lunch interval, Lewis McManus 13 (47) and Vince 34 (104) saw the home side bat through to the interval comfortably, not giving much to the Somerset bowling unit.

A crucial partnership for Hampshire between Vince and McManus, which lasted over 20 overs, was brought to an end by Overton taking his fifth wicket of the innings and seventh of the match. The fast bowler forced captain Vince to edge one behind and the wicket-keeper Davies, diving to his right, took a very smart catch.

The wickets continued to fall early on in the afternoon session. McManus made the decision to play at an out-swinging delivery from Davey, a delivery he had been leaving all day. It caught the edge of his bat and went to James Hildreth at first slip, who caught comfortably. McManus contributed 19 runs to the Hampshire total facing 78 balls.

Again, Hampshire produced a very strong last hour in the session, with Keith Barker 25 (58) and Felix Organ 4 (68) at the crease fighting hard, and really frustrating the Somerset bowling attack. Barker displayed some glimpses of flair when facing England spinner Jack Leach, reverse sweeping him on multiple occasions.

Hampshire showed great determination and fight to force the game to go into the final session of the match. Somerset created a few chances; majority being LBW appeals that the umpires were not interested in.

The formidable partnership that lasted 28 overs, was ended by Josh Davey, with another wicket caught in the slip cordon. This time it was Overton with a stunning catch that saw the end of the most frustrating period of play in the match that Somerset had faced.

Mohammad Abbas was the last man in to try and see the Hampshire side through to draw, but the Pakistan international was trapped LBW by Davey, who claimed his five-wicket haul. Hampshire set Somerset two runs to win for their second innings, which proved to be straight forward.

Keith Barker produced one of the most important half centuries of his first-class career, his 18^th in total. The all-rounder lasted a vital 119 minutes at the crease, ending the innings 52 no.

Hampshire’s low scoring first innings did really cost them, although they deserve credit for the second innings, making the Somerset bowlers really work for their 10-wicket victory. It’s now back-to-back defeats for Hampshire, desperate for a better outing at Lords on Thursday when they play Middlesex.

As for Somerset, the victory puts them second in the table, 20 points above third placed Hampshire. They’re back at Taunton against Surrey next time around.

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