Second XI Championship Somerset Second XI v Hampshire Second XI, September 14th-17th 2021, The Ageas Bowl (Nursery Ground), Southampton, Day 3 – Hampshire 186 All Out (A. Eckland 49, George Barlow 3/51) and 417 (Malik 171, A Eckland 67, Broderick 39, J Eckland 38, George Barlow 4/128), lead Somerset 171 (Greg Willows 52, George Bartlett 59, Khanna 3/22, Turner 3/40, Huntley 3/43) and 110/7 (Sam Young 32 not out) needing 323 runs to win.
Already facing a significant deficit at the start of the day with Hampshire resuming with a lead of 187 and 8 second innings wickets in hand, the hosts continued their strong progress with Zen Malik leading the way with a magnificent 171 before he was caught by Sam Young off the bowling of Barney Fitch. Malik received great support from Alex Eckland 67 (caught behind by Billy Mead off George Barlow). When Eckland was out, the 5th Hampshire wicket in the 90th over with the score was already 348, a lead of 363.
Hampshire’s lower order could not add anything substantively with the remaining 5 wickets falling for just 54. Malik was the first to go with and he was followed by Trodd (21), Wright (19), Croom (4) and 10-417 Huntley (11).
George Barlow (4/128 off 26.4 overs) was the pick of the bowling unit, with 2 wickets for Luke Pearson-Taylor and one apiece for Jack Pierce, Harry Robbins Max Tryfonous and Barney Fitch.
In truth you could understand the quick fall of the lower order Hampshire wickets. They must have been keen to get at the Somerset batsmen in the latter part of the day. Would Somerset’s respond positively and get respectably close to the target of 423?
The opening partnership between Greg Willows and Chris Gibson got off to a lively start, reaching 40 in 8.3 overs before Greg Willows was dismissed for 21. Enter George Bartlett with an opportunity not only to help his side make something substantial but stake a claim to a place in the final Championship game next week? Sadly, I am afraid George was soon gone, caught for 6 off Wright. Chris Gibson followed George back to the dressing room 3 overs later, bowled by Huntley for 24. 53-3.
A spirited fourth wicket partnership of 46 between Sam Young and Max Tryfonous lasted 16.2 overs before the latter was caught again off the bowling of Turner and 99/4 rapidly became 106/7 as Kasey Aldridge (0), Billy Mead (1), and George Barlow (0) all followed in quick succession.
Sam Young stood tall at the close with a welcome 32 not out off 72 balls, and alongside Luke Pearson-Taylor saw out the last few overs of the day and avoiding the ignominy of a three day defeat. Somerset will resume on the fourth morning facing an utterly improbable 323 to chase down. Delaying the inevitable beyond lunch must surely be the limit of their aspirations.
