Experience pays off

Marcus Trescothick cashed in against Hampshire © Getty Images

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Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick hit big hundreds as Somerset turned the tables on Hampshire during a one-sided third day at Taunton.

Langer made 188 and Trescothick 151 to help the home side extend their overnight score from 159 for one to 559 for five.

That meant they take a lead of 326 into the final day, having been bowled out for a paltry 126 in their first innings.

The pair’s stand of 272 in 63 overs was Somerset’s highest for the second wicket in 84 years.

Zander de Bruyn then hit an unbeaten 75 on a day of toil for Hampshire’s depleted bowling attack.

Having been damp on the first morning, the pitch has become a true Taunton belter for batting on.

Even an overcast morning failed to aid the bowlers as Trescothick and Langer resumed on 62 and 34 respectively.

Langer’s only scare came early on when he was caught well out of his ground at the non-striker’s end as Greg Lamb’s throw from square-leg narrowly missed the stumps.

That apart, the two batsmen were in complete control and Trescothick was soon testing the new safety net guarding construction workers on one side of the ground with a pulled six off Sean Ervine.

Trescothick reached his 43rd first-class century off 194 balls, with 14 fours and a six, thumping his drives, forcing powerfully off the back foot and emphasising again what a loss he is to the England side.

By lunch Somerset were 281 for one and 48 in front.

Langer moved to his hundred off 167 deliveries, with 12 fours, and looked the proverbial immovable object as all bowlers struggled against him.

Trescothick survived a difficult chance on 144 before being caught down the leg-side by substitute wicketkeeper Tom Burrows off David Griffiths the ball after reaching his 150.

By then he had faced 265 balls and extended his boundary count to 20 fours and two sixes. The scoreboard read 355 for two.

James Hildreth fell cheaply to James Tomlinson, but Langer went on remorselessly punishing anything loose, taking Somerset to 411 for three at tea.

The Australian finally departed when edging an off-break from Lamb to Burrows with the total on 460. He had faced 271 balls and hit 21 fours and two sixes.

By then de Bruyn was well set and after an indifferent start he blossomed with some fine shots to reach an 89-ball half-century.

Ian Blackwell (21) carelessly surrendered his wicket with a miscued shot to mid-on, which gave Tomlinson his 10th wicket of the match.

But Somerset’s lead was then 288, with five wickets still in hand.