Impressive Holland Keeps Hampshire In The Hunt

Ian Holland took four wickets as Hampshire sensationally fought back on a rain-affected day three of their day-night Specsavers County Championship fixture against Somerset at the The Ageas Bowl.

Holland (4-16) bowled superbly with the new pink ball and helped turn the game on its head, as Somerset lost four wickets for just nine runs in a superb six-over spell.

Gareth Berg (3-26) then took two wickets in consecutive overs as Somerset collapsed from 102-1 to 135-8 with Hampshire firmly in control before the rain returned and brought an end to a promising day for the hosts.

After torrential rain through the night and in the morning, play eventually got underway at 5:20pm, with the visitors resuming on 43-1.

Debutant Edward Byrom (43) and Adam Hose got their side off to a strong start, scoring at an aggressive rate of over four runs per over as the Hampshire bowlers took time to find their rhythm.

The pair made batting look comfortable in the overhead conditions, with ten boundaries between them as Somerset moved past 100 and into a potentially strong position.

However, Holland broke their 77-run partnership with a wicket in his very first over when Byrom chipped it straight to George Bailey on the off-side as he was denied his maiden first-class half-century.

Holland then removed James Hildreth (2) in his next over, as Hampshire began to swing the momentum back in their favour.

Tom Abell (0) and Steven Davies (0) were then both caught behind by Lewis McManus in Holland’s fourth over, as the floodgates began to open under the floodlights.

The seamer’s devastating spell saw the visitors collapse from 102-1 to 110-5 in the space of six overs.

Hose looked to rebuild the innings alongside Lewis Gregory (8) as Somerset moved onto 126-5, but Holland could not be kept out of the game, as his throw ran out the latter with the visitors soon finding themselves in further trouble.

Berg returned to the attack and with the very first ball of his spell, the all-rounder picked up the crucial wicket of Hose (48), who fell short of his half-century.

The right-armer then picked up another wicket with the first ball of his next over, Craig Overton (4) chipping the ball straight to Jimmy Adams at mid-wicket as Somerset suffered another collapse.

The visitors fell from 126-5 to 135-8, as Overton’s wicket brought the end to a brilliant session for Hampshire, with seven wickets falling for just 33 runs to see the hosts seize control of the contest.

The rain then returned during the interval to ensure no further play was possible, but with the weather set to be cloudy but dry on day four, it sets up an intriguing final day in this contest.