Hampshire see out draw

(ECB Match Report)

A see-saw LV County Championship Division One match at Taunton petered out into a tame draw after Hampshire had been set 422 to win in a minimum of 82 overs.

The visitors closed on 198 for one, having made no attempt to reach an unlikely target.

Michael Brown finished unbeaten on 104, despite having damaged a finger earlier in the game.

Somerset had declared their second innings on 654 for six as Zander de Bruyn fell two short of a first century for his new club, while Peter Trego was 84 not out.

The home side had been 21 for six in their first innings so it was hardly surprising that skipper Justin Langer took few risks with his declaration, having led the fightback with his 188.

Equally, Hampshire were carrying an injury to Nic Pothas, as well as Brown, and they appeared just as happy with a draw, which gave them 11 points to Somerset’s seven.

Somerset began the day on 559 for five, with a lead of 326 and Trego and de Bruyn soon made their intentions clear with some aggressive shots and took their sixth-wicket stand to 111.

But just as de Bruyn looked set to reach three figures he fell lbw playing across the line to Sean Ervine, having hit 10 fours in his 169-ball innings of 98.

 Still Langer delayed the closure and Trego enjoyed himself, taking his boundary count to nine fours and three sixes as the declaration came shortly before midday.

The rest of the pre-lunch session gave an indication of what would be in store as Brown and Jimmy Adams cautiously put 31 runs on the board from 15 overs.

From then on the result was never in doubt as the sun poured down on a now docile batting wicket.

Brown appeared to be missed on 21 when he gave a stumping chance to Craig Kieswetter off Ian Blackwell, but it was one of few alarms for the Hampshire batsman.

Leg-spinner Michael Munday broke through with the total on 99 when Adams was caught by Marcus Trescothick at slip for 49.

But Brown made no further errors, reaching his ton off 231 balls, with 13 fours.

John Crawley proved a solid partner and ended unbeaten on 24, by which time he was facing the hardly fearsome attack of Langer and Neil Edwards.

When stumps were drawn at 5pm it was a disappointing end to what had been a good game for the first three days. 

Scorecard

Back to news

• Share
• Email
• Print