Hampshire started the day needing an early breakthrough with Somerset resuming on 50 for no wicket, following on. Captain Dimi Mascarenhas was unable to take the field because of a sore heel sustained while bowling yesterday and it is thought he will be out for about a week.

It did not take long for Dominic Cork to strike, neatly removing Arul Suppiah’s middle stump for 21 in the third over. But after that Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer looked steady at the crease in far from ideal batting conditions. It took almost an hour for Trescothick to move from his overnight score of 26 to his 50, which came off 93 balls and contained 7 fours. This was followed shortly afterwards by Somerset’s 100.

In the 20th over of the day Langer (32) mistimed a bouncing delivery from Imran Tahir, which was safely caught by James Vince. James Hildreth defended the remainder of the over with five men around his bat and Tahir bowled out a wicket maiden. Hildreth survived one impassioned lbw appeal from Cork in the next over, but was given out for 4 the very next ball, leaving Somerset on 126 for 3.

Cork and Tahir bowled unchanged until just before lunch when Danny Briggs and David Griffiths were brought into the attack. Somerset finished the session 11 runs behind.

Despite a brief shower over lunch, play resumed on time and the loyal Hampshire crowd was soon warmed by Briggs taking his first wicket in First Team cricket when he had Zander de Bruyn caught behind for 13 off a top edge. But the afternoon was to get even better for the 18 year old spinner when in his next over Trescothick player around a straight ball and edged to Cork at slip for 73. With Somerset on 152 for 5, still three runs behind, Hampshire’s hopes of a valuable Championship win appeared to be revived.

But there was a long wait of well over an hour before Hampshire were able to make another breakthrough. The youthful Isle of Wight bowling combination of Griffiths and Briggs gave way to the experience of Ervine and Tahir and eventually the spinner had Peter Trego caught by Jimmy Adams at short leg for 27. By this time 56 overs had been bowled and Somerset were 55 runs ahead. Just a few overs later Sean Ervine trapped Omari Banks lbw for 7, with the visitors now 233 for 7.

While wickets fell at the other end, Craig Kieswetter had been accumulating runs in the hope of moving his team out of danger. His fifty came up in the 59th over of the day, off 86 balls and with 8 fours. Just before tea Tahir was set one of the most attacking fields ever seen at The Rose Bowl, with everyone except Griffiths crouched around Alfonso Thomas’ bat. But it was to no avail and Somerset went in with 7 wickets down and 93 runs ahead.

Shortly after tea Briggs struck again when he bowled Thomas with a ball that kept very low. But with Somerset 106 runs ahead and two wickets still to take, the chances of Hampshire forcing a win within the hour and 45 minutes available looked increasingly slim. The new ball was taken ten minutes later and Griffiths removed the dangerous Kieswetter almost immediately when he was caught by Liam Dawson at mid on for 70. The final wicket fell when Max Waller was caught behind off Griffiths, leaving Hampshire to chase 140 runs in 17 overs.

Suddenly playing a Twenty20 game, Hampshire changed their batting order to open with Adams and Lumb. But after 11 balls the umpires took the players off for bad light, effectively ending Hampshire’s chances of victory. The spectators remaining in the ground were incredulous, puzzled as to why the conditions had worsened so much as to become a risk to safety, but from the start of the season this decision has been solely in the umpires’ hands and there would have been no question of offering the light to the batsmen.

Just before half past five the captains shook hands and the match came to an end. The draw gives Hampshire 11 points, which moves them to sixth place in the Championship table, equal on points with Yorkshire and just above Sussex who have a game in hand.

 

Match report by Jane Cable
 

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