Crane And Dawson Spin Hampshire To Victory At Taunton

Hampshire's Liam Dawson and Mason Crane bowled Hampshire to a 90-run victory over Somerset in their Specsavers' County Championship game at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.

The pair picked up nine of the 10 Somerset wickets to fall on a day, wih Mason claiming a superb five-wicket haull to go alongside Dawson's four scalps, to see Hampshire to their second victory of the campaign so far.

With the exception of Dean Elgar (60), who recorded a second half century of the game, Somerset's batsman struggled in their second-innings as the Hampshire bowling attack's relentless pressure was rewarded throughout. Having begun the day needing a further 220 runs to win, the home-side slipped from 58 for 0 to 169 all out in 53.3 overs.

Somerset started the day on 39-0, but lost six wickets in the morning session as Dawson (4-66), in particular, bowled with excellent purpose and accuracy.

Marcus Trescothick (34) looked in good touch but he fell after edging a Dawson delivery to wicket keeper Lewis McManus.

Thereafter, wickets tumbled at regular intervals as Hampshire appeared to assume total control.

Captain Tom Abell departed at 70 for 2, once again off the bowling of Dawson, before Crane (5-40) found a way through James Hildreth's defence, just three runs later.

Steven Davies was trapped leg before by the increasingly effective Dawson and though Elgar, who passed 50 off 85 balls, batted without equal, he and Peter Trego were back in the locker room before the lunch interval.

Trego was run out after Elgar refused a possible single with the former then following him shortly after after being bowled by Crane.

Lewis Gregory offered some resistance after lunch but with Craig Overton and Jack Leach departing for just 10 and 7 respectively,  to Crane, the visitors closed in on victory.

Gregory followed, LBW to Dawson for 25, leaving Crane to not only help himself to the wicket of Jamie Overton in the 55th over, but his fifth scalp of the innings to seal a sensational victory.