Day 4: Hampshire 238 & 336 lost to Somerset 288 & 288/8 by two wickets

Points: Hampshire 3, Somerset 20

Somerset stalwart Tom Abell’s 22nd first-class century maintained his side’s unbeaten start to the Rothesay County Championship season with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Hampshire.

Former captain Abell controlled a chase of 288 with a flawless 101 to give Somerset the spoils in a match which had veered one way then the other.

Sonny Baker made things super-nervy by taking his third career five-wicket haul, but Abell held his nerve, and won both the match and scored his hundred at the same time.

Somerset earned 20 points and extended their lead at the summit to 21 points – albeit having played a game more than Nottinghamshire and Sussex – after starting the season with two away wins and a draw.

Somerset needed 148 runs to win on the final day, but they certainly didn’t hold down the accelerator to get to their target.

The old adage of slow and steady wins the race was the mantra in the morning session, with Hampshire accurate in their bowling to pile the pressure on and claim the remaining seven scalps.

Only two runs had been added in the first 16 minutes of the day before James Rew – who had seemed the great hope for a serene chase – edged behind.

Rew’s departure – which left him with an average of 75.8 after five knocks this season – also meant that a sixth innings had been cut short between 50 and 100 in the match.

The 21-year-old had chipped off 89 runs with Abell, but the wicket didn’t change the calmness that Abell exuded at the crease.

Hampshire bowlers found a tight channel to prevent easy runs and added further questions to the batters with variable bounce when bowling from the Rod Bransgrove Pavilion End. Only 34 runs were scored in the first hour, and just 84 came before lunch.

Will Smeed earned a life when Codi Yusuf couldn’t hang onto a diving catch at backward point, but when Jake Lehmann moved to field in the same position, he didn’t make the same mistake.

However, the 49 runs Smeed had contributed with Abell kept Somerset pointing in the right direction, although when Craig Overton was bowled, missing a hack, it soon appeared the hosts might have clawed back the momentum of the day.

Gregory, who had already contributed eight for 87 with the ball in the game, was the last recognised batter, and another 91 runs wouldn’t have been guaranteed with the tail. It wouldn’t be plain sailing.

Gregory almost chopped onto his own stumps, while Tom Prest’s single over before lunch brought three catching opportunities.

But post-lunch, the duo’s experience, and deep adoration for Somerset were displayed; both are desperate to bring a first-ever Championship title to Taunton, and a second victory of the season would increase hopes of quelling 135 years of near misses and failures.

Hampshire’s hopes relied on the second new ball, which materialised with 42 runs still required.

That number had ticked down to 25 when Baker came alive against his former county.

He uprooted Gregory’s middle stump – to end a 65-run stand – and, in the following over, he had his former housemate Alfie Ogborne caught behind.

Abell, who captained the county from 2017 to 2023 before passing on the baton to Gregory, managed the last few runs with grit.

He only scored eight boundaries in his 229-ball, and 314-minute, vigil before slotting the winning runs through midwicket.

Day 3: Hampshire 238 & 336 lead Somerset 288 & 139/3 by 148 runs

By Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

James Rew passed 50 for the fourth time in five Rothesay County Championship innings as Somerset put themselves on course to beat Hampshire. 

The eye-catching Rew, whose head coach Jason Kerr touted for England honours this summer, followed his 86 in the first innings to end the day 58 not out.

They followed scores of 64, 122 and 48 in his other three innings this season – with Somerset 148 runs away from chasing 288, with seven wickets still in hand.

Lewis Gregory had earlier taken his first five-wicket haul in three years to restrict Hampshire, despite half-centuries for Nick Gubbins, Jake Lehmann and Ben Brown.

The first two days saw Somerset seemingly in complete control to Hampshire fighting back and getting their noses in front – all while the pitch swung back and forth from favouring the bat to the ball.

The morning session saw neither side find match momentum, as Hampshire grew their 96-run overnight lead to 215 against an ageing ball, but three wickets kept them in check.

Despite Jack Lehmann and James Rew looking likely, no player had managed to reach three figures in the first two innings.

Like the two previous contenders, Nick Gubbins looked destined to reach three figures. It didn’t pan out that way.

A perfectly played reverse sweep off Jack Leach took him to 83 but jabbed outside next ball to depart.

Australian Lehmann was the next to try and buck the trend. He reached a half-century, for the second time in the match, with another punchy selection of drives and pulls.

He raised his bat and without scoring another run, chopped the pacy Alfie Ogborne onto his own stumps.

Opener Toby Albert retired hurt after he had extended him knee when taking a quick single on the second evening, his return was short-lived as Gregory had him leg-before.

Ben Mayes was bowled through the gate by Archie Vaughan, but Somerset wrestled back the advantage with the second new ball.

Vaughan tempted Liam Dawson into a loose leg side shot, before Gregory brought himself on, found good movement and four more wickets.

Ben Brown was the latest candidate to break the century curse, but was stopped on 66 by an inswinger.

Kyle Abbott and Eddie Jack were also bowled, before Sonny Baker was lbw – Gregory returning from a pectoral injury that had ruled him out the opening two rounds in style.

This was his first five-wicket haul against Hampshire, despite taking more wickets against the opponent than any other in first-class matches. 

In his six overs with the second new ball, during which he swapped ends, he took four wickets for five runs, with overall figures of five for 42.

Vaughan saw the 287 target as one to attack, despite there being plenty of time left in the match. The opener got the chase against Essex done and dusted in quick time, and stuck six boundaries in a 30 before taking on a Baker short ball and losing for the second time in the match.

Baker swapped ends and removed the rest of the Somerset top order. Josh Thomas was plumb in front and then Tom Lammonby hooked straight to deep square leg.

Not for the first time in the match, or the season, Somerset looked to Rew and Abell to build an important partnership – they once again answered with runs.

The pair put on 87, after 101 in the first innings, with Rew doing the majority of the run scoring.

Day 2: Hampshire 238 & 146/1 lead Somerset 288 by 96 runs

By Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Nick Gubbins finally broke his 40s curse to reach a fifty in the Rothesay County Championship this season as Hampshire battled back against Somerset.

Somerset had begun the day in a commanding position – thanks largely to James Rew’s 86 – but ended up only securing a 50-run first-innings lead.

Nick Gubbins cancelled that out, and after scores of 48, 43 and 48, was finally able to raise the bat during the 2026 season.

He ended the day 70 not out, with Tom Prest also contributing with 43, as Hampshire reached a lead of 96 in their bid to set table-toppers Somerset a tricky target.

Somerset had been in the ascendancy, having bowled Hampshire out before ending day one with Tom Abell and Rew well set.

That momentum continued on the second day as the pair took their partnership to 101.

Rew and Abell have enjoyed each other’s company at the crease this season – having put on 140 and 57 in their previous two alliances.

Nothing had happened in the first hour of the day to suggest Somerset weren’t on for a significant first-innings lead, but then Codi Yusuf started to get the ball to reverse, and Liam Dawson built pressure with a touch of turn.

However, the tailing in from Yusuf couldn’t be apportioned as the reason for Rew’s dismissal. The uber-talented 22-year-old lost focus on 86 to waft outside his off stump and offer a catch to gully.

It was a rare misstep in yet another example of Rew’s incredible talents – which this season has seen him score at least 48 in each of his four innings, to boast an average of 80.

His dismissal saw Somerset lose four wickets for 29 runs, and even the overall match situation up, with Hampshire suddenly dominant.

Will Smeed needed 23 balls to get off the mark and fell hoicking Yusuf down to deep fine leg, Abell edged a subtly spinning Dawson delivery behind on 49, and Lewis Gregory was bowled by a wickedly in-ducking Kyle Abbott beaut.

Somerset suddenly looked in danger of not reaching Hampshire 238, but Craig Overton’s biffing got them a lead, before he swished to cover.

Jack Leach had been an important cog in a 38-run partnership with Overton but he clumsily ran himself out after looking well-set on 20.

The fact Somerset claimed a 50-run lead, was down to an incredible salvo from Alfie Ogborne.

The tailender scored 39 runs across his first nine first-class innings without hitting a six. Here he struck three lusty blows in an entertaining 38 – which only came to an end when Eddie Jack plucked a caught and bowled which was hurling past him.

South African Yusuf, who had been luckless thus far in the campaign, returned three for 67 in the pick of the bowlers.

The hints the pitch was flattening was confirmed when Hampshire began their second innings, as the evening saw run after run with little chance or excitement for the bowlers.

Nick Gubbins’s Championship tally of 623 in 2025 was far below his previous two seasons of 895 and 969.

A move to the top of the order, from No.3, has felt a more natural switch, but despite a slew of scores in the 40s, a half-century had evaded him. He finally converted to the milestone with ruthless efficiency.

There were 114 runs scored before the first wicket fell, but by three rather than two batters – as Toby Albert retired hurt after taking a throw at the stumps to the unprotected part of his leg.

Prest therefore completed the first-wicket runs, putting on 92 with Gubbins for another start before he was lbw to Jake Ball – who was bowling his first ball of the innings in the 31st over.

Gubbins and Jake Lehmann gracefully reached close to leave the match finely in the balance.

Day 1: Hampshire 238 lead Somerset 154/3 by 84 runs

By Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

James Rew continued his exceptional start to the Rothesay County Championship season to keep England selectors’ attention on a day where 13 wickets fell at Utilita Bowl.

Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Rew began the season with 64, 122 and 48 before adding another half-century to back his bowlers striking Hampshire out for 238.

Jake Lehmann had been Hampshire’s lone batting star by striking 76, as Craig Overton and the fit-again Lewis Gregory picked up three wickets each.

Rew, batting at No.4, then replied with 77 not out by the close - with an average over 100 for the campaign - as Somerset ended the day trailing their hosts by just 84 runs.

Hampshire captain Ben Brown chose to bat first but regular wickets against a nagging bowling attack stemmed his ambitions of getting a large first-innings total.

Toby Albert was preferred to Joe Weatherley – who had only managed 16 runs in four innings this season – and looked punchy and busy at the crease.

Albert has traditionally had a Jekyll and Hyde approach to his batting in different formats. His aggressive and inventive T20 style helped him be the leading run scorer in the Vitality Blast last season.

Whereas in the Championship, he had gained a reputation as a blocker. Here, scoring 42, he found a middle ground between the two approaches – to give the suggestion he may be the answer to Hampshire’s long-term opening bat conundrum.

The Somerset bowlers had zipped the new ball through, finding Nick Gubbins offering a head high catch to third slip, and Tom Prest edging to wicketkeeper Rew.

But Gregory’s introduction began Hampshire’s slide from a respectable 72 for two to 126 for seven.

Gregory missed the first two rounds of the season with a pectoral injury and struck in his fourth over when Albert pushed behind, and then in his following over, got Ben Brown frustrated and drew a jabbed edge.

Those two overs turned the momentum towards the visitors, as Ben Mayes, Liam Dawson and Codi Yusuf departed within 22 balls of each other – with Overton picking up the second two of the trio.

Facing a sub-200 score, Hampshire’s tail wagged, with Lehmann acting as the shepherd.

Lehmann, who is the son of Australian great Darren but qualifies as a domestic player due to his UK Passport, put on 43 with Kyle Abbott and 62 with Eddie Jack.

The South Australian scored 76 and 92 in the victory against Yorkshire last week and through crisp hitting, followed it up with another 76.

Archie Vaughan pilfered the last two wickets to bowl Hampshire out for 238 – with Rew ending up with four catches to underline his all-round prowess.

Somerset’s reply started with a stutter as Josh Thomas tickled Yusuf behind to the seventh ball of the innings, and then Tom Lammonby mistimed a drive off Abbott to Albert at second slip.

But Vaughan – who came into last week’s win at Essex as a replacement to win the match with a breezy 41 – saw off the new ball with Rew.

And even though Vaughan hooked a Sonny Baker bouncer straight to long leg, the foundation was set for Tom Abell and Rew to fly through the gears and make a sizable dent into Hampshire’s total.

Rew was at his dominant best with wristy flicks and luscious drives to set himself up for a big total on day two.