Book tickets to the various music and other events hosted at Utilita Bowl
Visit Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl's online store to get your hands on official replica and supporter kit as well as a range of other merchandise.
Hampshire Hold Hopes Of Victory After Balanced Second Day At Taunton
Hampshire Hold Hopes Of Victory After Balanced Second Day At Taunton
Hampshire ensured there's all to play for heading into tomorrow's third day against Somerset
Words: Press Association
Hampshire enjoyed the better of a day two in an intriguing Specsavers County Championship against Somerset at Taunton.
The home side could add only 40 as Kyle Abbott finished with four for 49 and Liam Dawson four for 63. Hampshire then batted aggressively to post 293 in their second innings, Michael Carberry making 51 and Gareth Berg 49.
By the close Somerset had reached 39 without loss in their second innings on a pitch offering turn and bounce and required a further 220 for victory.
The morning was dominated by Hampshire, aided by some poor shots from the Somerset tail. Abbott and Dawson both added to their first day victims, while Berg wrapped up the innings with two for eight from 2.3 overs.
By lunch the visitors had comfortably wiped out a 35-run deficit on first innings, reaching 54 without loss. After the break Carberry and Dawson extended their opening stand to 84 before a see-saw contest took another turn.
Carberry drove Bess in the air to cover where James Hildreth parried the ball into the path of extra cover fielder Tom Abell. It signalled a collapse to 140 for six, Bess claiming the first five wickets to fall.
The pick of his deliveries beat James Vince in the flight as he advanced and bowled him through the gate for 19, a cameo that included 2 sixes and a four.
Throughout the afternoon Hampshire batted in cavalier fashion.
When Jack Leach bowled Lewis McManus aiming a big swing the ball after hitting him for six, the lead was only 105 and Somerset looked to have regained the initiative.
But Berg had other ideas, striking 7 fours and 2 sixes, as the Hampshire tail wagged to considerable effect. Abbott hit a valuable 33 before Mason Crane built on those efforts with a career-best 29.
Reece Topley shared a priceless last-wicket stand of 36 with Crane before the latter was eventually caught at mid-on to give Bess his seventh wicket.
Somerset were left with ten overs in the day to bat and set about their target with the hosts' opening pair seeing their side safely to the close.
