Hampshire wrap up win over Somerset
Last updated on .From the section Counties
| LV County Championship Division One, Taunton |
| Hampshire 627-9 dec beat Somerset 204 & 362 by an innings and 61 runs |
| Hampshire 23pts, Somerset 2pts |
| Match scorecard |
Hampshire boosted their survival hopes - and potentially ended Somerset's title chances - by wrapping up victory at Taunton on the final morning.
The visitors took less than 90 minutes to claim the three wickets they needed to win by an innings and 61 runs.
Imran Tahir struck twice, including Alfonso Thomas for 94, to finish with 4-125 as Somerset were all out for 362.
Bottom-of-the-table Hampshire's third win in four games leaves them 19 points from safety with two games left.
They face two of Somerset's title rivals Lancashire and Warwickshire in their final fixtures, while Somerset must win both of their last two games - at Yorkshire and at home to Lancashire - to stand any chance of winning the County Championship.
Somerset began the day needing another 157 runs to avoid an innings defeat, but they lost Thomas, 79 not out overnight, six short of his first century in English cricket when he mis-timed a drive off Tahir to be caught at mid-on.
Murali Kartik (26), Steve Kirby (14) and Charl Willoughby (23 not out) also put up a fight but, after Dimitri Mascarenhas pinned Kartik lbw playing no shot, Tahir finished the match by having Kirby caught at point by Chris Wood.
