Hampshire fight back well against Somerset

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Utilita Bowl (day two)

Hampshire 238 & 146-1: Gubbins 70*; Ball 1-16

Somerset 288: J Rew 86; Yusuf 3-67

Hampshire (3 pts) lead Somerset (4 pts) by 96 runs

Match scorecard

Nick Gubbins finally broke his 40s curse to reach a first fifty in the County Championship this season as Hampshire battled back against Somerset.

Somerset had begun the day in a commanding position – thanks largely to James Rew's 86 – but ended up only securing a 50-run first-innings lead.

Nick Gubbins cancelled that out, and after scores of 48, 43 and 48, was finally able to raise the bat during the 2026 season.

He ended the day 70 not out, with Tom Prest also contributing with 43, as Hampshire reached a lead of 96 in their bid to set table-toppers Somerset a tricky target.

Somerset had been in the ascendancy, having bowled Hampshire out before ending day one with Tom Abell and Rew well set.

That momentum continued on the second day as the pair took their partnership to 101.

Rew and Abell have enjoyed each other's company at the crease this season – having put on 140 and 57 in their previous two alliances.

Nothing had happened in the first hour of the day to suggest Somerset were not on for a significant first-innings lead, but then Codi Yusuf started to get the ball to reverse, and Liam Dawson built pressure with a touch of turn.

However, the tailing in from Yusuf could not be apportioned as the reason for Rew's dismissal. The 22-year-old lost focus on 86 to waft outside his off stump and offer a catch to gully.

It was a rare misstep in yet another example of Rew's incredible talents – which this season has seen him score at least 48 in each of his four innings, to boast an average of 80.

His dismissal saw Somerset lose four wickets for 29 runs, and even the overall match situation up, with Hampshire suddenly dominant.

Will Smeed needed 23 balls to get off the mark and fell hoicking Yusuf down to deep fine leg, Abell edged a subtly spinning Dawson delivery behind on 49, and Lewis Gregory was bowled by a wickedly in-ducking Kyle Abbott ball.