Adams Fifty Kicks Off Four-Day Action

Jimmy Adams (61) scored his third fifty of this year's Specsavers County Championship to lead Hampshire to 108-1 at lunch on day one against Somerset, before a testing spell from Jamie Overton (5-42) halted the morning's progress, restricting the home side to 219 all out at the The Ageas Bowl.

Hants all-rounder Ryan McLaren replied to Overton's inspired spell by removing Somerset captain Chris Rogers for a golden duck in the second over of the evening session to boost his side's hopes of securing a home victory.

Marcus Trescothick (32*) and Johannes Myburgh (29*) have taken the away side to 66-1 at stumps, and Somerset will start day two trailing by 153 runs.

Hants skipper Will Smith’s (32) decision to bat first against Somerset immediately paid off, as he and Jimmy Adams (61) put together an 89-run partnership before Tom Alsop (37) took the home side to 108-1 at lunch.

Adams scored his third County Championship half-century of the season off just 85 balls, hitting ten boundaries and looking in good touch alongside Smith, who usefully added 32 runs before being removed by Craig Overton at 89-1.  

Tom Alsop immediately looked assured at the crease as Hampshire moved to 108-1 at the end of a progressive morning session at the The Ageas Bowl, and the promising young batsman reached 37 after the break before being trapped at lbw by Jim Allenby.

Michael Carberry (29) batting at number four is an uncommon sight for Hampshire supporters and, when Adams’ composed 61-run knock was ended by a superb catch from Marcus Trescothick, Carberry relished the opportunity to score further down the order.

Having begun so confidently, Hampshire experienced a batting collapse when 6 wickets fell for 11 runs - Jamie Overton took five, including Carberry, Sean Ervine and Lewis McManus to reduce the home side to 195-9 from 184-3. Having batted so proficiently across all formats for Hampshire, it was a blow to see Liam Dawson (15) trapped at lbw by Allenby.

At 184-3, Hampshire had looked like posting a positive total on day one but Ryan McLaren (24*) and Tino Best (9) found themselves picking up the pieces after a damaging display from the visiting bowlers. The pair defended Hants’ final wicket with impressive resolve though, and South-African all-rounder McLaren remained unbeaten at the crease when Hampshire were all out for 218.

Hunting for key wickets in the evening session, McLaren wasted no time in removing Somerset's captain, as Chris Rogers edged to Lewis McManus with his first ball faced - the visitors reduced to 4-1.

Best seemed to have trapped Johannes Myburgh in the ninth over, with Somerset 21-1, and he was clearly disappointed when the umpire shook his head to dismiss Hampshire calls for a second early wicket.

Former England batsman Trescothick showed class and experience with the bat, accompanied by Myburgh, to help Somerset post 66-1 when the players left the field for bad light.

Somerset will start day two trailing Hampshire by 153 runs after an unpredictable opening day at the The Ageas Bowl.