Hampshire v Somerset FPTS 18th May

Dimi claimed Langer and Trescothick (Photo - jasonpix.co.uk)

HAMPSHIRE TIE WITH SOMERSET

Hampshire were involved in a thriller under the Rose Bowl floodlights on Friday as their Friends Provident Trophy match with Somerset ended in a pulsating tie.

Somerset, put in to bat with the ball moving around, totalled 220-6 off their 50 overs and Hampshire's No.11 Stuart Clark hit a single off the last ball of the match to leave his team level on 220-9.

Somerset were indebted to Ian Blackwell for recovering from 52-3 off 21 overs. The powerful all-rounder, coming in with four wickets down, scored 55.

Dimi Mascarenhas was the pick of the six-man Hampshire attack. He removed Somerset's star openers, Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick, with only 27 runs on the board and finished with fine figures of 2-17 off 10 overs.

Michael Carberry, making his first appearance of the season after injury, top-scored with 65 in Hampshire's reply and at 124-2 in the 30th over the home side were on course for victory.

But Carberry's dismissal off Blackwell's left-arm spin triggered a dramatic collapse as five wickets crashed for only 24 runs. Nic Pothas and then Mascarenhas were both out for ducks, Mascarenhas running himself out first ball.

Then at 148-7 and another 73 runs needed, Sean Ervine (46) was joined by Shaun Udal (31) in an inspired eighth-wicket stand of 61. But at 208-7 and just 13 more runs required off the last three overs this match of fluctuating fortunes took another twist. Udal's dismissal was followed by Ervine's in the final over with four runs still needed.

The last pair, Chris Tremlett and Clark, scored five and so honours finished even.

SOMERSET 220-6 (50 overs): Blackwell 55, White 45, Mascarenhas 2-17. HAMPSHIRE 220-9 (50 overs): Carberry 65, Ervine 46, Udal 31, Blackwell 2-27, Willoughby 2-33.

MATCH TIED.

* Hampshire have six points from their first five Friends Provident Trophy matches and now face a crucial match against Sussex at The Rose Bowl on Sunday (10.45am) in the same competition.