)}})
Hampshire secure second on dramatic third day
The battle for second place in Division One of the Vitality County Championship went the way of Hampshire on the third day of this match at the Cooper Associates County Ground. That’s despite an outstanding performance with both bat and ball by Somerset Captain, Lewis Gregory.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the home side and it was the visitors who claimed victory by five wickets.
When play began, the scores were level as the hosts resumed on 60 for four.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (17) and James Rew saw their side to a two-run lead but the former was bowled by a good delivery from Muhammad Abbas that nipped back in.
The lead was 15 when Kasey Aldridge edged Kyle Abbott through to Tom Prest at first slip which brought Lewis Gregory to the crease.
The Somerset skipper started in positive fashion, taking 18 runs off the last four balls of the 32nd over which was bowled by Liam Dawson. The following over, sent down by Abbott, heralded the arrival of the Somerset 100.
The lead had been extended to 48 with both Rew and Gregory looking settled and confident, but Abbas, bowling from the River End after Abbott had left the field with what looked like a hand injury, found the Somerset ‘keeper’s outside edge and Toby Albert took a good diving catch at third slip.
Gregory continued to play a captain’s innings, reaching 50 from 38 balls, and along with Jack Leach brought up the Somerset 150 in the 44th over.
The 50 partnership arrived in the 46th over from 65 balls and when Gregory drove the returning Abbott to the boundary the lead passed the 100-mark.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Gregory’s fine knock was ended on 59 when he was bowled by Abbott at 163 for eight, the Hampshire bowler securing his ninth wicket of the match. He finished the second innings with five for 37.
Alfie Ogborne feathered Felix Organ through to Ben Brown with the score on 176, and when Shoaib Bashir was bowled by Felix Organ Somerset were all out for 180 at lunch.
Needing 121 for the victory that would ensure second place in the table, Hampshire will have felt that they were in the box seat. Gregory, however, had other ideas!
The first delivery of the innings saw Toby Albert edge through to James Rew, and the second ball found Nick Gubbins’ outside edge allowing Andy Umeed to take the catch at fourth slip.
The visitors were rocking at 0 for two as James Vince faced the hat trick ball. He survived, but only just. Roared on by the Taunton faithful, Gregory bowled, Vince edged and the ball was put down at second slip.
Vince and Feltcha Middleton had taken the score to 21 before Gregory claimed his third victim. Middleton was the batter to fall to an absolute beauty which cut him in half and found the finest of edges before James Rew did the rest.
Jack Leach then accounted for Tom Prest, trapping the batter lbw for 13 at 46 for four to give Somerset genuine hope of a dramatic win.
The Hampshire 50 arrived in the 11th over and Vince went to his half century from 58 deliveries. The 50-run stand for the fifth wicket followed shortly thereafter from 74 balls as Hampshire regained control.
With spin being employed at both ends, the Somerset bowler’s best efforts went unrewarded as they beat the bat on several occasions, but it was to no avail.
Hampshire went to three figures off the final ball of the 23rd over but Vince, looking to end things quickly, danced down the track only to be deceived by Leach and was stumped by Rew for 54.
The departure of Vince mattered little though as Hampshire reached their target to secure victory by five wickets and with that claim second place in the Division One table.
Somerset’s final position will rest upon the outcome of the match between Essex and Surrey.
