Somerset Settle For Third After Hampshire Loss
Somerset had to settle for third place in County Championship Division One after losing out to Hampshire in a low-scoring final game of the season against Hampshire.
The Vertu Motors-backed side headed into the match at Taunton dicing with the opposition for second place in the table behind Surrey, and was boosted by Tom Banton – who missed the game injured – signing a new two-year deal to run to the end of 2026.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat first, but things didn’t start well as both Tom Lammonby and Andy Umeed were removed in the second over by Kyle Abbott to leave their side on 4-2.
Tom Abell survived an appeal for a catch behind but was then dismissed for ten before a break for rain and early lunch.
Opener Archie Vaughan fell soon after the restart and was quickly followed by both James Rew and Kasey Aldridge as Somerset slipped to 71-6, with captain Lewis Gregory the only one of the remaining batsmen to hit double figures before his side were bowled out for 136.
Alfie Ogborne ensured Somerset made a positive start with the ball when he removed Fletcha Middleton for a second-over duck and the wickets continued to tumble as Hampshire found themselves on 62-5 by the close – Jack Leach having starred with the ball to take three wickets for just nine runs.
Leach would eventually end up taking five wickets in total when Hampshire progressed to 196 on the second day to secure a first innings lead, with Toby Albert having anchored the innings with a solid 77.
The pitch continued to favour the bowlers as Somerset once again found the going tough with the bat, with Kyle Abbott grabbing 3-11 by the close with Somerset having brough the scores level but for the loss of four wickets.
From 60/4 overnight, Somerset went on to make 180 thanks to 59 from Gregory and 33 not out from Leach, but it meant Hampshire needed just 121 to win the game and wrap up second spot.
Gregory took two wickets with the first two balls of Hampshire’s second innings and could have had a hat-trick if Aldridge has been able to take a tricky catch at slip, but 54 from James Vince and an unbeaten 44 from Liam Dawson helped the visitors to take victory by five wickets.