The match between Hampshire and Somerset in the 2026 county championship will have a definite result barring a dramatic downturn in the weather. However there is no telling which way it will go.
BACK AND FORTH
It looked for a long time like Hampshire would build a decisive advantage in the course of their second innings. At 269-4 they were 219 ahead with six wickets standing, and most would have anticipated a final advantage of at least 350 for them. However a fine spell of bowling by Lewis Gregory brought Somerset back in to it. The Plymouth born seamer had final innings figures of 5-42, including the last four wickets at a personal cost of five runs, as 310-6 became 336 all out, and Somerset were left needing 287 to win, one run less than they had managed first time round. The pitch is not showing any signs of serious mischief. Archie Vaughan started well, scoring 30 of the first 33 runs, but then got out. Joshua Thomas and Tom Lammonby have also both been dismissed, for 9 runs each. James Rew and Tom Abell are now batting together and have moved the score on from 52-3 to 79-3. Somerset will have memories of a match against Essex when they were set 325, slumped to 78-5 and ended up winning, while Hampshire will note that Somerset have a longish tail, with Smeed in next, then Overton and Gregory, both good all rounders, but both more bowler than batter, and finally Leach, Ogborne and Ball, of whom the first two can bat a bit, while the latter is a genuine number 11. Somerset Women are also in action, against Lancashire Women in the Women’s One Day Cup, in a match that is going to the wire, though by now Somerset’s hopes would seem to rest on Charlie Dean, who will have to shepherd the tail if Somerset are to score the 27 they still need with four wickets and six overs remaining.
While I have been preparing this post for publication Somerset have moved on to 95-3 against Hampshire, and Somerset Women are within sight of victory over Lancashire Women, with Jess Hazell providing Charlie Dean with good support. Lancashire Women appear to have messed up their handling of the bowlers – Mahika Gaur will not bowl a full allocation, which given that she has 1-19 approaching the end of her sixth over, and the fact that she is an England bowler looks horrendous.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
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