Hampshire v Somerset, LV=CC: Day Two Report

Gareth Berg (4-64) reached his best figures for the club, but Somerset took control on a rain-affected second day of Hampshire’s LV= County Championship match at the The Ageas Bowl.

An impressive display of seam bowling saw the home side pick up the last four Somerset wickets for just 36 runs as Marcus Trescothick’s side were dismissed for 346.

However, Hampshire endured a tough time in the middle in reply as four wickets for Craig Overton (4-24) and three wickets for Alfonso Thomas (3-38) helped dismiss the hosts for 147.

After enforcing the follow-on, Somerset picked up two further wickets late in the evening session as Hampshire ended the day 41-2, 158 runs behind and with a lot of work to do to turn the game back into Hampshire’s favour.

After an even first day and the second morning lost to rain, it was certainly Hampshire who looked on top with Berg once again showing why he has been the club’s most impressive bowler so far this season.

The 34-year old picked up three of the last four wickets, whilst Jackson Bird (2-75) dismissed former Hampshire wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Bates (14) as the home side picked up full bowling points.

But what came next turned the game on its head and put Hampshire very much on the back foot in the game.

Hampshire had no answer to the excellent display of fast-bowling from openers Thomas and Lewis Gregory (2-54) as the visitors quickly found themselves 66-6 at tea and in a spot of bother.

Despite Sean Ervine (23) and Berg (38) briefly putting on hold Somerset’s quick progress, the home side were eventually dismissed for 147 – the club’s lowest completed total in the Championship in four years.

After Trescothick made the decision to put Hampshire back into bat, Jimmy Adams (5) became the 15th wicket to fall in the day, whilst Sean Terry (19) fell late on as Michael Carberry (16*) and nightwatchman James Tomlinson (0*) saw Hampshire through to stumps 158 runs behind.