Hampshire hold on for Somerset draw

Needing 249 in their second innings to avoid an innings defeat, the visitors finished the day on 254 for five.

However, they had to ride their luck on several occasions over the coyrse of the final day, with Ervine, who helped himself to a century, dropped three times during an innings that, in the end, was the difference.

The day began with Craig Overton surviving a near run out, when on 99, to celebrate his maiden first class hundred off 123 balls, with 10 fours.

Overton, who with Roelof van der Merwe broke the county’s record eighth wicket partnership in the Championship, which had stood since 1983 when Ian Botham and Viv Richards put on 172 against Leicestershire at Grace Road, batted with typical aggression to reach 138.

When the young Devonian finally departed, caught on the mid wicket boundary by Adams off the bowling of Mason Crane, Somerset captain Chris Rogers declared. Van der Merwe, who passed three figures off 137 balls, with seven fours and two sixes, was left unbeaten on 102.

Overton’s early morning runs meant Hampshire required 249 in their second innings to make Somerset bat again. When opener Will Smith departed for 0, off 12 balls, lbw to Jack Leach, that initial target looked a long way off.

Ervine and Adams joined forces and managed to steer Hampshire to lunch, albeit somewhat fortuitously. Ervine, who was quick to punish the short ball, was dropped by wicket keeper Ryan Davies, on 43, off the bowling of captain Jim Allenby, in the final over before the interval.

The 32 year-old Zimbabwean made the most of that mistake and having been dropped again, on 78, by Overton, he went on to reach three figures off 148 balls. He was dropped again, on 100, before finally departing for 106 at 165 for two.

Adams, who was understandably watchful on a wicket that continued to turn, posted his half century off 169 balls with six fours.

However, after tea and with the game seemingly drifting, Hampshire suffered a double blow when James Vince (13) and Adam Wheater (0) were dismissed by van der Merwe in the same over. 
Sensing their chance, Somerset pushed on in pursuit of the wicket of Adams which finally fell, at 251 for five, caught by Marcus Trescothick off the bowling of Leach, who now has 45 first class wickets this season.

Somerset made one final push, but Hampshire held their nerve and when the sides shook hands, Hampshire were 254 for five.