Somerset hammer injury-hit Hampshire to boost title chances

Chasing an improbable 418 to win, the visitors collapsed from an overnight 12 for one, to 104 for nine, with Joe Weatherley unable to bat

Taunton (fourth day of four): Somerset 408 & 358-8, Hampshire 349 & 104 - Somerset won by 313 runs

Scorecard

Somerset strengthened their position at the top of the Specsavers County Championship with a resounding 313-run victory over injury-hit Hampshire at Taunton.

Chasing an improbable 418 to win, the visitors collapsed from an overnight 12 for one, to 104 for nine, with Joe Weatherley unable to bat.

Jack Leach claimed three wickets and there were two each for Lewis Gregory, Jamie Overton and Dom Bess as only James Fuller, who made 35, offered much resistance.

Somerset took a maximum 24 points from their sixth win in eight games to extend their lead at the top of the First Division, while Hampshire had to settle for six points

With Tom Alsop and Weatherley nursing hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, Hampshire were facing a mountainous task at the start of play.

It soon got even tougher as Ajinkya Rahane, without adding to his overnight score of eight, drove loosely at a wide ball from Gregory and Overton claimed a sharp catch at second slip.

Overton then found the edge of nightwatchman Kyle Abbott’s bat as he defended against a sharply rising ball and wicketkeeper Steve Davies took a straightforward catch.

Soon it was 28 for four as Rilee Rossouw guided a short delivery from Overton straight to Tom Banton at gully and departed for eight.

Things almost got worse for Hampshire with the total on 32 when Sam Northeast and Fuller got in a tangle over a quick single. With both batsmen stranded in the middle of the pitch, Bess took careful aim from cover, but missed the stumps at the bowler’s end.

^{Jack Leach bowled Fidel Edwards as Somerset defeated Hampshire by 313 runs}

Overton, looking to add to his five first innings wickets, again worked up good pace from the River End, while Gregory also posed plenty of problems as Northeast and Fuller looked to see off the opening bowlers.

They did so, but Fuller then needed some good fortune on 21 when Davies fumbled a clear stumping chance off Leach, who had replaced Overton.

Tim Groenewald took over from Gregory seeking his 400th first class wicket. He bowled tidily without getting it and it was Leach who struck a big blow by having Hampshire captain and first innings centurion Northeast brilliantly caught by Tom Abell at cover for 23.

The Somerset skipper dived forward full length to get his fingers under the ball and leave the visitors 85 for five with lunch still 25 minutes away.

Keith Barker could contribute only four before picking out Abell at short mid-wicket as he looked to work Leach through the leg side.

Fuller produced some belligerent blows, hitting two boundaries in an over from Bess, before the off-spinner took revenge by bowling him.

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At 97 for seven, Hampshire opted to send in Fidel Edwards, rather than risk aggravating the injuries to Alsop and Weatherley.

When Edwards was bowled by Leach he appeared ready to shake hands, but out limped Alsop to bat with a runner for the second time in the game.

The lunch interval was delayed and by 1.05pm the match was over, Leach taking a catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Mason Crane.

It was Somerset’s first Championship win over Hampshire at Taunton since 1996 and suggested they could well be on course for a first ever title.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

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