LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Rose Bowl:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Hampshire 281-7
Hants 2pts, Somerset 2pts
Match scorecard

Nic Pothas hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 87

A sixth-wicket stand of 158 between Nic Pothas and Sean Ervine could not stop Somerset taking the upper hand over Hampshire on day one at The Rose Bowl.

After winning the toss, the hosts slipped to 123-5 thanks mainly to the efforts of Charl Willoughby, who bowled 12 maidens in his 23-over 3-26.

Pothas (87) and Ervine (75 not out) then combined to reverse the tide.

But Pothas and Dominic Cork fell to Ben Phillips (2-38) before stumps to leave Hampshire 281-7 and Somerset on top.

Hampshire's four defeats from their opening four Championship fixtures is their worst start to a season for 104 years and things did not look like improving when left-armer Willoughby removed openers Jimmy Adams and Michale Carberry to reduce them to 18-1.

Liam Dawson, back in the side and promoted to number three, steadied the ship with Neil McKenzie (48) but he fell lbw to leg-spinner Michael Munday to leave Hampshire struggling on 64-3.

A fourth-wicket stand of 49 between McKenzie and James Vince led another mini revival but when they fell in quick succession, to Willoughby and Peter Trego respectively, Hampshire were in deep trouble.

Pothas and Ervine launched a positive rearguard, with Pothas hitting 12 fours and three sixes in his 137-ball effort to wrestle the initiative away from Somerset.

But with the light fading, the wicketkeeper was caught by Munday off Phillips and Cork was trapped lbw for a duck off the same bowler to leave Ervine, who hit 10 fours and a six, with burden of Hampshire's second-day hopes.

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