Portsmouth News

Hampshire struggles

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Craig Overton put Somerset in full control against Hampshire as the visitors dominated the second day at the Ageas Bowl.

Overton - the leading wickettake­r in the LV=County Championsh­ip - demonstrat­ed his batting credential­s by top-scoring with 74, then starred with the ball as his side opened up a 165-run lead as Hampshire closed on 92-3, writes IAIN McCULLOUGH.

The England paceman hit 10 fours on his way to his 13th first-class 50, before he removed opener Ian Holland, Tom Alsop and nightwatch­man Kyle Abbott during a hostile spell of bowling late in the final session.

Alsop and Weatherley had dug in admirably in a 56-run stand before the left-hander fell for 32 five overs from the close when he lobbed an easy catch to Josh Davey.

Overton struck again in the penultimat­e over of the evening when he trapped Abbot lbw for a duck for his 30th wicket of the campaign.

Weatherley was unbeaten on 31 alongside new batsman Sam Northeast, with the pair to resume their innings at some stage on Saturday with heavy rain forecast.

It seems only the weather can prevent Hampshire from sliding to a second successive Championsh­ip defeat.

Somerset started the day on 142-5 and added another 47 to their total before skipper Tom Abell's stubborn innings was ended on 62 by a ball that nipped back into the top of his off-stump from Abbott.

Nightwatch­man Jack Leach, dropped when on three in the final over of the first day, made the hosts pay for that mistake with an entertaini­ng 34.

But the England spinner perished after trying to lift Keith Barker over the slips cordon only to find the hands of Liam Dawson.

Somerset's deep batting line-up then proved its worth as 143 runs were put on for the last three wickets, spearheade­d by Overton.

He was ably supported by

Steve Davies and Lewis Gregory as Somerset built up a handsome 257-run lead after recovering from 36-3 to be 336 all out.

Left-arm veteran Barker was the pick of the home bowlers, finishing with 4-67 on his first appearance since last August, while Abbott took three wickets.

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