Match Details
Chasing a meager total of 75, Tom Banton and Will Smeed shepherded the innings for Somerset and the pair adjusted to the swinging conditions. There was some sideways movement obtainable in the second innings as well but both the right-handers tackled that pretty inside the powerplay. However, Banton soon broke the shackles and got into his element by engineering a couple of ramps.
The Hawks did have a little taste of success in this contest as Australian seamer Nathan Ellis removed Will Smeed 5(13), who was playing the second fiddle in the opening partnership. Banton continued his assault and went all guns blazing after Liam Dawson after the powerplay but the left-arm spinner had the final laugh and outwitted the right-handed Banton for 40(24). Following two quick wickets, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 18*(12) and Tom Abell 9*(8) paired up and cruised Somerset to a comprehensive victory by stitching a 27-run partnership for the 3rd wicket.Earlier in the day, after being invited to bat first, the reigning champions were off to a disastrous start by losing their opening pair under the span of two overs. Craig Overton lured Ben McDermott 3(4) into the trap and the Australian right-hander edged one to the slip cordon. Matt Henry was allocated the new ball from the other end and the Kiwi pacer orchestrated a massive breakthrough in the first delivery of his spell by cleaning up James Vince for 1(3).
The onus was now on Tom Prest and Joe Weatherley to resurrect the Hampshire innings but both batters were unsettled by late movement off the surface and Weatherley succumbed to building pressure and threw his wicket away at 3(12). The Somerset pacers exploited the conditions beautifully and kept dishing out breakthroughs at regular intervals.
Liam Dawson and Ross Whiteley supplied a little period of respite to the defending champions by stitching a 29-run partnership for the 6th wicket but their stand was closed by the Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory. The right-arm seamer dismissed Dawson 15(14), who attempted a needless ramp shot. Ross Whiteley 18(23) portrayed some resilience but he too was unable to elude a collapse.