LVCC Hampshire vs Somerset Day 2

Somerset trail by 450 runs.

After a slow start to day two at The Rose bowl, Hampshire sprang into life after surviving two early LBW appeals from Somerset’s Peter Trego. James Adams continued where he left off yesterday with some fine strokes, hitting Alfonso Thomas for four and taking Hampshire over the 300 mark with the last ball of the 103rd over.

Hampshire survived a scare in the 108th over as Pothas was caught only to be given not out as the Somerset keeper thought he’d got his man. Pothas did go four overs later though, as he was caught behind by Kieswetter off the bowling of Willoughby for 41 with Hampshire 326-5.

Adams’ time at the crease came to an abrupt end shortly after as he was bowled by Willoughby with the help of an inside edge, needing just three to reach his 150. Cork hit a lovely drive to long off as the score kept ticking along, and Hampshire ended for lunch on 365 for 7 with Mascarenhas on 7 and Cork the more expansive on 22.

With just under four overs played the player's were taken off for a rain stoppage. Play resumed with Cork on top form as he hit Banks for 14 off an over, culminating in a six over long-on into the pavilion end. He kept up his scoring rate and made his half century in the 135th over with two fours from an over by Waller.

Mascarenhas was dismissed LBW to Waller soon after, departing on 31 runs with Hampshire 422 for 7. Cork soon followed as he was caught by Suppiah at fine leg for 52. Imran Tahir was beginning to play himself in and backed this up with a drive for four through mid-on. Banks claimed his fourth wicket of the match though, as Griffiths shot straight at Willoughby to catch.

Tahir stood up to the pressure though, and hit Banks for six over long-on into the Northern end. He followed this up by nicking a Thomas delivery over Kieswetter for four, and he made it to 50 in the same over with a single, setting his highest ever first class total in the process. Hampshire hit the 500 mark as Tahir put the ball back past De Bruyn for four at the Pavilion end. With Briggs digging in at the other end Tahir hit a huge six over square leg. Briggs, however, was caught by Banks off the bowling of Suppiah and Hampshire finished their first innings at 548 for 10, with Imran Tahir not out with a career best of 77.

Hampshire finished their first innings on 548, with Imran Tahir not out on a personal first class record off 77.

Hampshire started their attack with David Griffiths and Dimi Mascarenhas bowling to Marcus Trescothick and Arul Sappiah. Somerset made the most of the opening overs making 30 in eight bowled, Suppiah played a neat drive to mid-off and Trescothick also hitting the rope. They survived their first appeal as Griffiths’ ball hit the pad but was deemed to be going away from the stumps.

The run-rate rose comfortably for the visitors, but Tahir made the breakthrough in the 19th over. Sappiah tried to turn the ball away but sent it high up into the air and back into Tahir’s hands for 35. The Pakistani bowler was at it again three balls later, Langer just edging through for Cork at slip to claim the catch. The new batsman seemed furious with umpire Nick Cook’s decision but he had to walk and the visitors who were looking secure were suddenly 78 for 2.

Tahir made even more headway in the 21st over as Hildreth shot straight to Mascarenhas at mid-on to catch, Cork bowled a maiden from the Pavilion end as Somerset’s scoring rate lowered. Alfonso Thomas was sent in as nightwatchman to replace Hildreth. Cook and Tahir stopped Somerset adding any significant runs as play ended on day two with Trescothick on 36 and Thomas on 8, leaving Somerset on 98 for 3 and trailing by 450 runs.

 

Match report by Paul Abrahams

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