Honours even as Rose Bowl wicket holds no fears

All eyes were on how the Rose Bowl wicket would play on Hampshire's first return there since losing points two weeks previously, but there were no hidden fears as a good days cricket in good weather in front of a good crowd alleyed any doubts.

Losing the toss at the Rose Bowl has become a bad habit for Hampshire captains, Robin Smith back after a bout of chicken pox made it 5 tosses from six attempts that have gone against the home county, and not surprisingly Jamie Cox chose to bat first.

Somerset made a slow start with Cox managing 30 runs by the lunch interval, and after the cloud cover had gone and the promised sunshine arrived, the innings picked up tempo. Parsons and Turner made painstaking half centuries before Richard Johnson hit an exhillerating 61 in just 37 balls, with 2 sixes and 9 fours.

Alan Mullally was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets, whilst Shaun Udal did most of the spade work, being rewarded with three wickets, on a pitch that showed signs of turn early on.

At the close Hampshire had safely negotiated 5 overs (3 from Caddick) but we suppose the most relieved man of the day would have been Head Groundsman Nigel Gray.