Johnson 1st Wicket

Hampshire recorded victory in their pre-season friendly match against Somerset at Taunton. The sun finally shone to give both teams much needed outdoor practice on the Easter Monday.

A thirteen a side 55 overs match was arranged, with some bowlers not being scheduled to bat. The day started with almost a serious incident when coach Jimmy Cook was struck on the back of the head when a ball during fielding practice reared off a stump. He had to be helped from the field by Hampshire physio David Newman, but recovered well. "If it had hit me in front of my ear, it may have been much more serious," said Jimmy at lunch time, "However it hasn't done me any harm."

Hampshire won the toss and put the home side in and achieved early success when Holloway received a shooter from James Hamblin. On the expected slow wicket the Hampshire bowlers kept the score down, but they were hampered by some "Land of Hope and Glory" bowling "Wider still and Wider". Neil Johnson turning out for his new club for the first time, and Chris Tremlett bowled 19 wides between them, a feature of Hampshire's play that will have to be addressed.

Johnson with this exception bowled well and will make a useful acquisition to the side, in particular the limited overs game. Off-spinner Shaun Udal took good advantage of the conditions to take 3 wickets for 26 in his eleven overs, and although slightly more expensive, young Chris Tremlett also took a trio.

The wides problem boosted the extras tally to 30, making them the highest scorer of the innings. Michael Burns team captain for the day making 29.

Hampshire got off to a good start in their quest to topple Somerset's 139 tally. Giles White and Derek Kenway looked confident. White was given out caught when he skied a bouncer, with the score on 38. The local umpire, perhaps not realising that this should have been a no-ball for the head high delivery. With Kendall superbly caught by the Somerset wicket-keeper, and Robin Smith still looking out of sorts the batting faltered as four wickets fell for 25. Kenway's patient innings of 43 that included 5 fours ended when he was lbw to Parsons to a ball that kept low.

Neil Johnson and John Stephenson however steadied the ship, as they took Hampshire past the required target with a sound 50 partnership.

Result: Hampshire 141-5 (Kenway 43, Kerr 2-11) beat Somerset 139 all out (Burns 29, Tremlett 3-38, Udal 3-26) by 5 wickets.

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