LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Rose Bowl:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Hampshire 512, Somerset 104-2
Hants 4pts, Somerset 2pts
Match scorecard

Ervine's previous best for Hampshire was 114 against Lancashire in 2009

Sean Ervine hit a career-best 237 not out to bat Hampshire into a strong position on day two of their clash with Somerset at the Rose Bowl.

The former Zimbabwe all-rounder began the day on 75, with his side 281-7.

But Ervine put paid to Somerset's hopes of quickly polishing off the Hampshire innings by sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 130 with James Tomlinson (42).

Hampshire were eventually all out for 512, Ben Phillips finishing with 4-75, before Somerset closed on 104-2.

Former England opener Marcus Trescothick was first to go, trapped leg before by David Griffiths, who had earlier contributed five to a last-wicket partnership of 53 with Ervine.

And he was followed by fellow opener Arul Suppiah, who fell to the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath.

But the day belonged to Ervine who marshalled the tail superbly to ensure Hampshire frustrated Somerset by adding 231 for their last three wickets.

Ervine brought up his century off 169 balls, including 15 fours and a six, and, after sharing 48 for the eighth wicket with Herath, saw the hosts to 392-8 at lunch.

By that time he had easily beaten his previous Championship best for Hampshire of 114 against Lancashire last summer.

But after losing Tomlinson for a career-best 42 - beating his unbeaten 35 against Lancashire in 2008 - Ervine still had work to do to reach 200 and then pass his personal best.

Yet he found a willing ally in Griffths who hung around long enough to not only help Ervine reach his double century with a four down to backward point - the 37th of his innings - but also pass his previous best of 208, made for the Southern Rocks against Mid West Rhinos in his homeland.

And by the time Griffiths was last out to the occasional off-spin of Compton, Ervine had made the highest score by a Hampshire number seven.

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