Report: Hampshire v Somerset, Vitality Blast

Babar Azam smashed his first Vitality Blast century, and highest career T20 score, to set up a 63-run DLS win for Somerset over Hampshire.

James Vince won the toss and threw the ball to Chris Wood – and the seamer grabbed a wicket in his first over for the fourth time this season when Tom Banton was caught at mid-on.

James Hildreth departed soon after when he clattered a cut to point to leave Somerset 37 for two.

After two short rain delays, Azam and Tom Abell ramped up the scoring rate with a series of well-timed cricket shots, with a smaller than usual The Ageas Bowl outfield assisting them.

Their 50 partnership came up in 34 balls, soon before Azam’s square drive took him to his fourth half-century in the Blast, off 32 balls.

Abell followed the overseas batsman to the milestone, the first time he had reach 50 in T20 cricket, off 30-balls – reaching the landmark with back-to-back reverse sweeps to the boundary.

He, after putting on 113 with Azam, and Eddie Byrom both fell.

Azam had gone under the radar, preferring placement and skill to power but turned on the heat with his second fifty coming in just 23 balls.

It was breath-taking batting with his maximums flying over deep midwicket, point, an incredible strike over cover and finally, off the last ball of the innings, a sweet strike over square leg to bring up three figures.

That took Somerset to 202 for four, and Hampshire’s reply faltered in the second over as Tom Lammonby’s direct hit ran out Rilee Rossouw.

Wickets carried on falling at regular intervals thanks mainly to outrageous catches, courtesy of Max Waller, Banton and Roelof van der Merwe – somehow bettering each other with each fling at the ball.

With Vince, Aneurin Donald, Liam Dawson, Chris Morris and Sam Northeast all caught, Hampshire's hopes of victory passed by.

And when rain prevented any further play with eight overs and a ball to spare, the hosts finished 63 adrift of the DLS score.