Lumb breaks hundred barrier

Michael Lumb scored his first century for Hampshire on another rain-affected day as Somerset chased the points they need to go top of Division One of the LV County Championship.

Somerset began the game needing three points to leap to the head of the table but managed only two, as Lumb got in their way with his first century for the county he joined from Yorkshire at the start of last season. It was his 29th match and 46th innings for Hampshire.

The hosts were eventually bowled out for 316, Lumb contributing 107 and Sean Ervine 69 before rain brought a premature end to day two at the Rose Bowl.

Somerset openers Marcus Trescothick and Arul Suppiah had reduced the deficit by 41 from the 10 overs possible before the close.

Michael Lumb reached three figures for Hampshire for the first time today © Getty Images

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South African-born Lumb was unbeaten on 49 overnight, at which stage Hampshire were 113 for four from 50 overs of their first innings.

Lumb lost his fifth-wicket partner Liam Dawson at 146, to an lbw decision in favour of spinner Ian Blackwell.

But Lumb and Ervine put on 80 for the sixth wicket, the latter reaching his century by taking two runs off Somerset's stand-in captain Andy Caddick.

But after batting for five hours and facing 223 balls, Lumb's innings came to an end when he edged Caddick to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

He had hit 16 fours, and his century was the first by a Hampshire batsman at the Rose Bowl for a year.

Ervine hit a fluent 69 - his highest score of the season, including 12 boundaries - before he guided Alfonso Thomas to Marcus Trescothick to second slip.

Caddick soon removed David Balcombe via another catch at slip, spectacularly taken two-handed by the diving Trescothick - before Dimitri Mascarenhas guided Hampshire to 300 and another vital point in their quest to avoid relegation.

Blackwell got rid of Mascarenhas, and last man James Tomlinson lost his leg stump to Charl Willoughby, who finished with 3-86. Blackwell deserved better than his 2-39 from 24 teasing overs.

Somerset began their reply in urgent need of quick runs to make up for time lost to the weather - and had to do so without injured captain Justin Langer.