Vitality Blast - South Group

Somerset 197-7 beat Hampshire 181-9 by 16 runs

JEROME Taylor became just the third Somerset bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20 cricket as Hampshire were beaten by 16 runs in Taunton.

Playing just his third match for his new county, the West Indian paceman took 5-15 from four overs as the visitors fell short despite excellent knocks from James Vince (74 from 45) and Liam Dawson (81 from 50).

Hampshire seamer Chris Wood had earlier taken a five-fer of his own - the first time two bowlers have taken five-wicket hauls in the same T20 Blast match - as Somerset recovered from 17-3 to post 197-9, James Hildreth top scoring with 57.

Having been put in to bat upon losing the toss, Somerset again made a poor start with questions now growing around the opening pair.

Steve Davies edged his first ball behind, the first of two wickets to fall to Wood in the opening over as Peter Trego (2) was later clean bowled.

Johann Myburgh then holed out for nine as the hosts lost their three wickets inside three overs for the second match in succession.

With Tom Banton back from England Under-19 duty and waiting in the wings along with Lewis Gregory - who opened last season and is keen to try it again - in such fine form with the bat, change looks necessary at the top of the order in the group games to come.

Tom Abell has proved to be the ideal man for a crisis in this season's competition and played another valuable hand here, adding 60 in 6.4 overs with James Hildreth.

Abell slog-swept Liam Dawson for the first six of the day but perished attempting the same shot to the next delivery, Rilee Rossouw taking the first of three catches on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Hildreth brought up a 40-ball half-century but he lost the company of Corey Anderson shortly afterwards for 32 before departing himself for 57, guiding Wood to short third-man.

Gregory continued his fine recent run with the bat, blasting 24 from nine balls as he and Roelof van der Merwe (31* from 13) provided the late fireworks the innings needed, playing some incredible shots along the way.

Hampshire stuttered to 25-2 in reply, Jamie Overton proving too quick for Colin Munro before James Hildreth held a fine catch backtracking from mid-wicket too see the back of Sam Northeast, before Taylor's introduction put them further in the mire.

The 34-year-old, who had gone wicketless in his first two Somerset matches, removed Rilee Rossouw and Tom Alsop in successive deliveries to leave the visitors reeling at 37-4.

It could have been worse had Gregory held on to a steepling chance at mid-on off Overton when James Vince was on 18, but the batsman capitalised on the life he was given and followed Hildreth in bringing up his half-century with a six.

Liam Dawson was playing a supporting role to the England man but, once Vince lofted Taylor to Overton at long-on to depart for 74, Dawson put his foot down and took a particular liking to van der Merwe, who went for 54 in his four overs.

The last over arrived with Dawson on strike and Hampshire needing 23, but the key man was run out from the first ball of the over attempting a second run to keep himself on strike.

Dawson's excellent 82 included nine fours and four sixes, but his departure ensured the game was won and Taylor had Ryan Stevenson caught at extra cover from the very next ball.

His five-fer was completed when Chris Wood fell in identical fashion, leaving Somerset victors by 16 runs and - temporarily at least - top of the South Group.

Speaking afterwards, Taylor said: "To be honest I was bowling more to restrict the batsmen than to take wickets. We assessed the pitch having seen Hampshire bowl and decided that varying pace was a better idea than skidding it through.

"That's what I tried to do and it paid off. At the halfway stage we thought 197 was a defendable total. It was good to put in that sort of team performance in front of our home crowd.

"I am enjoying my cricket with Somerset and I think we have the batsmen and bowlers to do well in the competition."