Archie Vaughan delivered a career-best bowling performance with six wickets for 96 runs, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Somerset as Hampshire held firm for a draw in their County Championship Division One clash at Taunton.
Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins played a gritty innings, facing 203 balls to score 37 runs, helping his side stave off defeat and ease their relegation concerns. Alongside captain Ben Brown, Gubbins formed a vital fourth-wicket partnership that lasted 40 overs after Hampshire resumed the day on 35 for one, needing 247 more runs to avoid an innings loss.
Washington Sundar top-scored for Hampshire with 46 runs as they battled to 201 for eight at stumps. Despite the steadfast bowling efforts by Somerset, including Vaughan’s six for 96 from 50 overs and Jack Leach’s economical two for 40 in nearly 50 overs, Hampshire’s resilience ensured the draw held.
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Somerset earned 16 points to maintain third place in the Division One standings, while Hampshire’s combination of eight points for the draw and two bowling points lifted them out of the bottom two ahead of the final round of fixtures.
The battle resumed with Hampshire adding just two runs overnight before Vaughan struck early, dismissing Fletcher Middleton caught at leg slip by Kasey Aldridge. Hampshire demonstrated defensive resolve, particularly as Toby Albert, who had carefully navigated 52 balls for 10 runs, was trapped lbw by Vaughan at 57 runs.
Somerset crowded the bat with up to seven fielders at times in an attempt to break the resistance of Gubbins and Brown, but the pair’s solid defense held. Although Somerset struck back with key wickets, including dismissing Gubbins off Vaughan’s bowling and brown lbw to Leach, Hampshire’s grip on the game was firm at 129 for five.
Coach Jason Kerr praised his team’s efforts, highlighting Leach’s world-class three-day spell and Vaughan’s mature and skillful bowling display despite his young age. Kerr acknowledged that while the pitch improved, it lacked pace and bounce, making batting comparatively easier on the final day—favoring the kind of defensive batting Hampshire executed.
Kerr conceded that while a home draw after nearly winning is disappointing, the loss of play on the first day had influenced the likely outcome. He also praised Hampshire’s character in securing the draw.