Liam Dawson’s century offers Hampshire the sting on slow-burn day
Hampshire 282 for 7 (Dawson 109*) vs Somerset
Liam Dawson overtook his finest LV=Insurance County Championship runs tally since 2015 with an unbeaten 109 in entrance of England selector Luke Wright on a slow-paced day between Hampshire and Somerset.
Dawson has loved a profitable season with bat and ball with 667 runs and 28 left-arm spin wickets to his identify in Division One.
His second century of the marketing campaign handed Hampshire a slim benefit after day one on the Ageas Bowl, after Nick Gubbins‘ slow-paced 49 off 132 balls.
Fast bowlers Jack Brooks claimed three wickets and Lewis Gregory two because the Somerset assault refused to permit their hosts to attain at above three runs per over. They closed on 282 for seven.
Hampshire selected to bat, however earlier than play began the 2 groups stood for a minute of silence in reminiscence of Heath Streak, who died aged 49 earlier on Sunday.
Zimbabwean Streak performed 19 first-class and 21 List A matches for Hampshire as an abroad signing in 1995. Their gamers wore black armbands in the course of the day’s play.
Fletcha Middleton – a star of Hampshire’s development to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup ultimate final month – fell to his third supply, as Brooks discovered some away motion and the surface edge to second slip.
The restoration set the platform, and tempo, for the day. Watchful and secure batting, in opposition to correct however unthreatening bowling on a gradual pitch.
On his first Championship outing for Hampshire, Toby Albert confirmed promise in his 26 throughout a 50-run stand with Gubbins earlier than tamely chipping to level.
James Vince belied the circumstances by cover-driving his first ball for 4. His 34 in 49 was a uncommon attacking spell of the day, alongside out-the-blue sixes from Albert and Gubbins.
Vince overtook Gubbins in 17 overs earlier than lunch however was given out caught-behind off an inside-edge earlier than Tom Prest was leg earlier than for a six-ball duck.
Gubbins, who has a strike-rate of beneath 40 in Division One this season, was significantly gradual between lunch and ultimately fell a run shy of his seventh half-century as Shoaib Bashir’s faster ball crashed into the stumps. He was changed by Ben Brown who slowed issues much more, with 4 off 42 deliveries in 54 minutes earlier than Gregory had him caught behind.
Dawson manoeuvred issues in his sometimes understated model, his 111-ball fifty exhibiting composure, talent, and a sound approach however little unneeded extravagance.
The solely query mark on his innings was a caught-and-bowled attraction off Brooks, who claimed the catch, however Dawson insisted it was a bump ball. The umpires sided with the batter. Replays have been inconclusive so the good thing about the doubt in the direction of the batter proved wise.
James Fuller accompanied Dawson in a 54-run stand earlier than Brooks struck him on the pads with the brand new ball, however Dawson marched in the direction of the thirteenth century of his profession and previous 9,000 first-class runs.
Due to the sluggish nature of the floor, Dawson dominated his scoring sq. of the wicket, with all however two of his 13 boundaries coming from pulls, jabs, sweeps or cuts.
He and Keith Barker accelerated in the direction of the shut, placing on 56 collectively, to money out the dividends earned from the sooner graft within the day.