Specsavers County Championship
Day one
Hampshire 162 all out
Somerset 157-5

SOMERSET spinner Jack Leach gave a superb performance on day one of the County Championship clash with Hampshire in Taunton, as he took six wickets to give the hosts the upper hand after day one.

After a minute's silence was well observed for the victims of the Manchester attack, Hampshire began steadily enough at the Cooper Associates County Ground, having won the toss and chosen to bat, before Liam Dawson (13) was caught brilliantly by Dom Bess off Leach to leave the visitors 34-1.

Bess then removed Michael Carberry (17), caught behind by Steve Davies, before Leach struck twice more - taking out James Vince (11) and Rilee Rossouw (0) - meaning Hampshire were now 62-4.

Bess returned and claimed two wickets in two balls - Sean Ervine (8) and Lewis McManus (0) - before the visitors made it to lunch at 100-6.

Leach then added two more victims - Gareth Berg (10, stumped Davies) and George Bailey (49) - before Craig Overton claimed his first dismissal of the day, Crane (1), and Leach trapped Kyle Abbott (49) lbw to end the Hampshire innings on 162, and end with individual figures of 6-78.

Somerset's reply did not get off to the brightest of starts as Monday's record breaker Marcus Trescothick went for six off Abbott, but Dean Elgar and Tom Abell worked steadily, Abell eventually going for 40 off Dawson with the hosts on 90-2.

James Hildreth departed for seven off the bowling of Abbott, and Elgar went for 60 and Peter Trego for 14 off Dawson, but Davies (16*) and the returning Lewis Gregory (4*) saw Somerset to 157-5 at the close.