On This Day: Dawson & Crane Down Somerset

Hampshire Cricket's historian Dave Allen takes a look back on timely memorable moments in his ‘On This Day’ series.

Somerset v Hampshire, County Championship: 25th May - 28th May 2017

Hampshire beat Somerset at Taunton in the County Championship on this, the 28^th May 2017 and third day of the match and given that none of the four innings reached 300 and all 40 wickets fell, the margin of 90 runs was a considerable achievement, yet the match was in the balance until well into the fourth innings.

Hampshire won the toss, batted and while their top four all reached double figures, only George Bailey (49) went on. From 62-1, Hampshire collapsed to future England spinners Leach (6-78) and Bess (3-45), and although Kyle Abbott (49) resisted they were all out for 162.

Dean Elgar (60) reached the game’s first half-century and he and Tom Abell took Somerset to 70-1 before Abbott (4-49) and Dawson (4-63) bowled them out, with a lead of 35. Somerset had been 157-5 overnight so it might have been more.

Carberry (51) and Dawson then took the score to 84 before the first wicket fell, but in no time, Hampshire were 85-3 and 140-6 before Berg with his side’s third 49, Abbott (33) and Crane (29) pushed the lead beyond 200 and then 250. They were all out for 293 (Bess 7-117) leaving a target of 259.

Elgar scored 60 again and Somerset made a good start losing their first wicket at 58. Thereafter it was a battle that Hampshire’s spinners Dawson (4-66) and Crane (5-40) were generally winning and with Somerset 168 all out Hampshire won by 90 runs – a vital victory as they ended just two points above relegated Middlesex come September.