Tresco looking to cash in

Marcus Trescothick will resume with Somerset 74 in arrears © Getty Images

Marcus Trescothick led a determined Somerset fightback on the second day of the LV County Championship Division One match at Taunton.

After bowling out Hampshire for 359 in their first innings and conceding a lead of 233, the home side closed on 159 for one, with Trescothick ominously placed on 62 not out.

The visitors were hit by injuries to wicketkeeper Nic Pothas (calf strain) and his replacement Michael Brown (damaged finger), forcing them - with Somerset’s permission - to draft in second XI wicketkeeper Tom Burrows, who was not in the XI named for the game.

John Crawley had earlier taken his overnight score of 78 to 104 before becoming one of three victims for Ben Phillips (3-62).

Michael Lumb contributed 76 to the Hampshire total as Charl Willoughby claimed 3-69.

Hampshire had begun the day on 194 for three and soon lost nightwatchman David Griffiths.

But Crawley moved to a chanceless hundred off 189 balls, with 15 fours, adding 32 for the fifth wicket with Lumb.

Phillips broke the stand by having Crawley caught low down by Trescothick at second slip with the total 234 for five.

Charl Willoughby toiled hard for his two second-day wickets

But Lumb and Pothas then added 47 before the latter fell to the first ball after lunch.

Pothas had suffered his calf injury running between the wickets in the morning session and came out with a runner, only to depart lbw to Willoughby’s opening delivery for 25.

Sean Ervine was bowled by Phillips shouldering arms for 16 and it was 322 for eight when Greg Lamb was lbw trying to sweep Ian Blackwell.

Hamza Riazuddin lofted a full toss from Blackwell to mid-on and Lumb was last man out, having faced 142 balls and hit 11 fours in a solid innings.

Trescothick and Neil Edwards were soon eating into Hampshire’s lead on a drier pitch than they had batted on in the first innings.

Edwards moved powerfully to a half-century off 69 balls, with a six and seven fours, only to give his wicket away dead on 50, by lifting a Lamb full toss to James Tomlinson at mid-on.

Justin Langer came in on a pair, but the Somerset skipper was soon away with a cover driven four off Lamb and was dangerously poised on 34 not out at the close.

Trescothick had been unusually restrained in reaching his half-century off 100 deliveries, though he did strike six fours and a maximum into the River Tone off Lamb.

But the former England opener will be looking to cash in on day three, which Somerset will start only 74 behind.