Day One

Hampshire's Liam Dawson and Mason Crane bowled Hampshire to a 90-run victory over Somerset in their Specsavers' County Championship game at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.

The pair picked up nine of the 10 Somerset wickets to fall on a day, wih Mason claiming a superb five-wicket haull to go alongside Dawson's four scalps, to see Hampshire to their second victory of the campaign so far.

With the exception of Dean Elgar (60), who recorded a second half century of the game, Somerset's batsman struggled in their second-innings as the Hampshire bowling attack's relentless pressure was rewarded throughout. Having begun the day needing a further 220 runs to win, the home-side slipped from 58 for 0 to 169 all out in 53.3 overs.

Somerset started the day on 39-0, but lost six wickets in the morning session as Dawson (4-66), in particular, bowled with excellent purpose and accuracy.

Marcus Trescothick (34) looked in good touch but he fell after edging a Dawson delivery to wicket keeper Lewis McManus.

Thereafter, wickets tumbled at regular intervals as Hampshire appeared to assume total control.

Captain Tom Abell departed at 70 for 2, once again off the bowling of Dawson, before Crane (5-40) found a way through James Hildreth's defence, just three runs later.

Steven Davies was trapped leg before by the increasingly effective Dawson and though Elgar, who passed 50 off 85 balls, batted without equal, he and Peter Trego were back in the locker room before the lunch interval.

Trego was run out after Elgar refused a possible single with the former then following him shortly after after being bowled by Crane.

Lewis Gregory offered some resistance after lunch but with Craig Overton and Jack Leach departing for just 10 and 7 respectively,  to Crane, the visitors closed in on victory.

Gregory followed, LBW to Dawson for 25, leaving Crane to not only help himself to the wicket of Jamie Overton in the 55th over, but his fifth scalp of the innings to seal a sensational victory.

Day Two

Hampshire enjoyed the better of a day two in an intriguing Specsavers County Championship against Somerset at Taunton.

The home side could add only 40 as Kyle Abbott finished with four for 49 and Liam Dawson four for 63. Hampshire then batted aggressively to post 293 in their second innings, Michael Carberry making 51 and Gareth Berg 49.

By the close Somerset had reached 39 without loss in their second innings on a pitch offering turn and bounce and required a further 220 for victory.

The morning was dominated by Hampshire, aided by some poor shots from the Somerset tail. Abbott and Dawson both added to their first day victims, while Berg wrapped up the innings with two for eight from 2.3 overs.

By lunch the visitors had comfortably wiped out a 35-run deficit on first innings, reaching 54 without loss. After the break Carberry and Dawson extended their opening stand to 84 before a see-saw contest took another turn.

Carberry drove Bess in the air to cover where James Hildreth parried the ball into the path of extra cover fielder Tom Abell. It signalled a collapse to 140 for six, Bess claiming the first five wickets to fall.

The pick of his deliveries beat James Vince in the flight as he advanced and bowled him through the gate for 19, a cameo that included 2 sixes and a four. 

Throughout the afternoon Hampshire batted in cavalier fashion.

When Jack Leach bowled Lewis McManus aiming a big swing the ball after hitting him for six, the lead was only 105 and Somerset looked to have regained the initiative.

But Berg had other ideas, striking 7 fours and 2 sixes, as the Hampshire tail wagged to considerable effect. Abbott hit a valuable 33 before Mason Crane built on those efforts with a career-best 29.

Reece Topley shared a priceless last-wicket stand of 36 with Crane before the latter was eventually caught at mid-on to give Bess his seventh wicket.

Somerset were left with ten overs in the day to bat and set about their target with the hosts' opening pair seeing their side safely to the close.

Day Three

12 wickets fell to spin on the first day as Hampshire battled back in their Specsavers' County Championship clash against Somerset as Taunton.

Nine of the 10 Hampshire wickets to fall on the opening day were at the hands of spinners Jack Leach (6-78) and Dom Bess (3-45), as the away side were dismissed for 162 batting first, before Liam Dawson (3-44) and Kyle Abbott (2-33) reduced Somerset to 157-5 at the close.

A morning that began brightly for Hampshire finished with Somerset on top.

Having won the toss, the visitors, looked in precious little trouble in reaching 34 for 0 in the 14th over, however, by the time the two sides sat down for a lunch, Hampshire had stumbled to 100-6.

Openers Michael Carberry and Dawson got the board moving inside the first hour before the latter departed and Carberry followed shortly after with the score at 34-2.

Five overs later, Leach struck again, this time, it was James Vince who perished to the slow left armer.

Rilee Rossouw and Sean Ervine followed to Leach and Bess respectively and before lunch arrived, Lewis McManus edged a viscious sharp-turning delivery to short-leg.

Having reduced Hampshire to 100 for 6 at lunch, Somerset finally bowled out the visitors for 162 off 49.1 overs.

George Bailey (49) battled well for the visitors and he looked to be nearing a deserved half-century before a delivery that pitched on leg stump and struck off bowled him.

Craig Overton then denied the opportunity for all 10 first innings wickets to fall to spin when he picked up his first wicket.

Kyle Abbott (49) once again showed real character in a resistant innings, however Leach claimed his wicket in the 50th over to see the innings brought to a close.

Somerset lost Marcus Trescothick (6) early in reply, before Tom Abell (40) and Dean Elgar (60) added 75 for the second wicket.

However, when Abell departed at 90 for 2, a min-collapse ensued.

Elgar, who became the first batsman on the day to reach 50, off 74 balls with six fours and a six fell to Dawson who bowled beautifully throughout the day.

James Hildreth (7) also departed after being trapped LBW by Abbott, whilst Peter Trego (10) was then the fifth man out at 141 in the 37th over.

Dawson continued to probe late in the evening session, and alongside Sean Ervine, the duo piled on the pressure with three consecutive maidens in the final overs, as Hampshire took some momentum heading into tomorrow's second day.