Specsavers County Championship
Day 1
Hampshire 211-9 dec v Somerset 18-0

CRAIG Overton responded to his England snub with two wickets and a catch on the opening day of Somerset’s first ever day/night County Championship match, which was dominated by the Cidermen's bowlers.

Matt Maynard made three changes for the meeting with Hampshire, bringing in Eddie Byrom for his debut to open the batting in the absence of Dean Elgar (on international duty), and bowlers Josh Davey and Tim Groenewald replacing Dom Bess and the injured Jamie Overton.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first at the Ageas Bowl, making a fluent start as openers Liam Dawson and Jimmy Adams enjoyed supremacy over the visitors' attack and reached the first interval at 74-0.

However, Overton – included in the England squad for the IT20 series with South Africa but not selected – then intervened, having Adams (47) caught by James Hildreth at slip.

The fast bowler struck again soon after, Rilee Rossouw superbly caught behind by Steve Davies for a duck, and the home side were 86-2.

Dawson secured a half-century, but then went for 53 (trapped lbw by Lewis Gregory), and Tim Groenewald left Hampshire on 132-4, as George Bailey (4) was caught by Overton.

James Vince and Sean Ervine brought the hosts up to 157-4 at the second interval, but Somerset finished the evening very strongly, with three more wickets.

Spinner Jack Leach accounted for dangermen Ervine (16) and Vince (47), both caught behind by Davies.

Groenewald then returned to dismiss Ian Holland for a duck, and Hampshire had been reduced to 172-7.

The pressure continued from the visitors, as Gregory took two quick wickets – pinning Gareth Berg (11) lbw and then clean bowling Lewis McManus (13) at 199-9.

Hampshire then declared on 211-9, the day favouring the opening batsmen but the night belonging to the visiting bowlers - Gregory taking 3-51, Groenewald 2-27, Overton 2-35 and Leach 2-54.

Somerset’s opening pair of Marcus Trescothick (10) and Byrom (1) survived through to the close, meaning the away side will resume on 18-0 on day two.