Somerset break Hampshire resolve to steal a march in race for qualification

Josh Davey and Craig Overton equally share the 10 second-innings wickets to give last season's Bob Willis Trophy runners-up a healthy cushion in second place in Group Two

The Ageas Bowl (fourth day of four): Hampshire 79 & 258, Somerset 336 & 2-0 - Somerset won by 10 wickets

Scorecard

A superb all-round display from Craig Overton inspired Somerset to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Hampshire as his side wrapped up a fourth County Championship Group Two win at the Ageas Bowl.

England paceman Overton, who is the top wicket-taker in the country, took 5 for 66 from a mammoth 40 overs as Hampshire were dismissed for 258, putting himself firmly in contention for selection for next month's Test series against New Zealand.

Overton was also the top scorer in the match with 74 on Friday and finished with overall figures of 7 for 82, with Josh Davey also playing a significant role in the triumph taking 5 for 30 on the final day.

The defeat was Hampshire's second successive heavy loss following last week's innings and 289-run humbling by Surrey having started the season strongly by winning two and drawing one of their first three matches.

Although the hosts batted with much more gumption to pass 200 for the first time in four innings, their pitiful day one effort of 79 all out left them with too much do against their in-form opponents.

The visitors looked set to wrap up the win just after lunch when Lewis McManus departed for 17 only for Keith Barker and Felix Organ to frustrate their hosts with a two-hour stay at the crease.

Organ batted with great discipline and determination to score just seven runs from 108 balls before falling to a diving catch by the irrepressible Overton off Davey.

Mohammad Abbas was the last man out leaving Barker unbeaten on 52 before Eddie Byrom knocked off the two runs needed for the win with rain beginning to fall and the light fading.

^{Keith Barker showed great resilience and skill as Hants threatened to bat out the day}

Hampshire started the day trailing by 147 runs after rain washed out all but nine overs on Saturday, and frustrated Somerset for almost an hour with Joe Weatherley and skipper James Vince scoring just 20 runs in the first 13 overs against some tight bowling.

Davey finally got the breakthrough when he found the outside edge of Weatherley's bat and Steve Davies took a sharp catch behind the stumps to end the opener's dogged innings of 44 from 209 balls.

Davey struck again in his next over as Liam Dawson was trapped lbw to pick up only the second pair of his career

It was Overton who grabbed the vital wicket of Vince just after lunch when Davies took another fine catch to dismiss him for 42 which firmly put his side on course to an excellent win ahead of next week's clash with Surrey.

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