Flat wicket makes draw inevitable

Hampshire requiring 300 to avoid an innings defeat started badly when play finally got underway at 2:30pm after heavy rain had cancelled out the mornings play. A trio of half-centuries however meant that both teams had to settle for a draw on a wicket that was too flat.

Classed as a good wicket, the Taunton pitch could be described as too good, it did nothing for the bowlers of either side, even on the last day it was as placid as the first despite the green tinge that led to Somerset putting Hampshire into bat.

When play finally got underway, Derek Kenway and John Crawley were both back in the pavilion with 16 runs on the board, and the prospect of a third successive innings defeat must have been going through their minds.

Three of Hampshire's young hopefulls however, disperced those thoughts. James Adams and Lawrence Prittipaul battled hard, posting an 80 run partnership. Adams hit 8 fours in his 68 ball stay, the James Hamblin joined Prittipaul to take them to safety as the captains shook hands at 5:30.