Hampshire 2nd XI defeat Somerset 2nd XI at Taunton

Whilst the First XI were struggling against their Somerset opponents, Hampshire 2nd XI were recording their second successive ECB 2nd XI Championship victory against the same second side. In a run chase on the third and last day, the last five wickets fell for just 6 runs to give the visitors victory.

The first day did not start until 4pm following heavy rain, but the Hampshire batsmen made up for lost time with Alex Morris, Lawrence Prittipaul and Iain Brunnschweiler all posting half centuries.

When Somerset batted Piren Holloway played superbly, hitting 21 fours and 4 sixes in his run-a-ball 143, James Hibberd the young Calmore all-rounder took 2 wickets, as Somerset declared 52 runs behind.

Again with rain threatening, Hampshire pushed their second innings score along. Dominic Clapp who made his first team debut for Hampshire in the match against Oxford UCCE scored 55, whilst Iain Brunnschweiler's 49 allowed Hampshire to set Somerset a target of 5 an over (281 in a minimum of 49 overs).

Somerset set about their task with vigour, Holloway and Keith Parsons both plastered the boundary boards, and skipper Wesley Durston kept up with the run rate, however with 51 still needed Parsons was run out on 88, Renato Almeida was well caught by Charlie van der Gucht off Chaka Hodge, Rowe was bowled by the impressive Mark Thorburn, who then had Reynold McLean (brother of Nixon) lbw next ball, to give Hampshire victory.

Mark Thorburn dinished with 4 wickets, with van der Gucht and the Anguillan, West Indies 'B' player Chaka Hodge taking 2 a piece.