Somerset title chase held up by Dawson
By Calum Trenaman at the Ageas Bowl Somerset (30-2) trail Hampshire (196) by 166 runs
Somerset’s Specsavers County Championship title aspirations were frustrated as a hard-earned century by Liam Dawson saved Hampshire from embarrassment.
Dawson’s innings helped his side to 196 all out. Somerset’s reply started with difficulties. Both openers were out early as bad light had the players on and off repeatedly.
The division leaders will be disappointed not to have finished off Hampshire for a lower total as they look to take maximum points and give themselves the best chance to win their maiden title with a match to spare.
On a cloudy day in Southampton, batsmen will have been rolling their eyes and bowlers licking their lips when they saw the pitch before the start of play. Such was the coating of grass, it almost blended into the neighbouring disused pitches.
Surprisingly, both sides hoped to bat first. It was a good toss to lose for Somerset though, as they had Hampshire 24 for five within 12 overs.
The morning session had bounce, nip and danger, but the ball softened in the afternoon and conditions offered little threat.
Somerset have come close to winning the Championship title before, but have never done so in the 128 years they have played in the competition. This season stands as their best chance to do so.
A potential final-round decider against Essex in Taunton could be unnecessary with a victory here and an Essex defeat at Chelmsford.
After play, Somerset bowler Lewis Gregory said Somerset were trying to block out the bigger picture: “There’s always going to be eyes on what’s going on, but we’re trying to focus on what we can control here. If we can win a game here this week it puts us in a really good position for next week whatever happens at Chelmsford.”
Not wanting to let things go down to the wire, Somerset savaged Hampshire’s top order. Gregory had Felix Organ out with only the third ball of the day, with a delivery that nipped away and took the edge. This seemed to strike fear into the Hampshire batsmen. Dawson came in at 18 for four and had a lot of work to do to rescue his side.
Fresh from signing a new threeyear contract last month, Dawson’s fighting century was one of his best.
He reached his ninth first-class century off 154 balls, and in Stokesian fashion he kept his helmet on and barely celebrated reaching the milestone.
The first loose shot of his innings came a ball later, as he swiped at a wide one from Somerset captain Tom Abell and was caught behind.
Gregory was full of praise for his opponent: “He played brilliantly. He was positive, hit some good balls for four and put us under pressure. That’s what we’ve got to do tomorrow. Get this ball a little bit softer and older and it becomes easier to bat. It was a very good knock.”