County Championship Division One

Hampshire 148 & 75-4 beat Somerset 106 & 116

SOMERSET'S County Championship title dreams are all but over after they were beaten inside two days by Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

The visiting batting line-up collapsed for the second time in as many days and, despite an early wobble, Hampshire knocked off the 75 runs required with six wickets to spare.

It was an eventful day's play which began with Hampshire on 142-9, 36 runs ahead.

The home side's final wicket pair had added just six to their overnight total when Fidel Edwards chipped back to Craig Overton, but Somerset again made a poor start with the bat as Kyle Abbott ran riot.

Having taken 5-31 in the first innings, the South African paceman swiftly reduced Somerset to 20-4 with only Marcus Trescothick standing firm.

Steve Davies made 23 before falling victim to the other South African seamer in the home attack, Dale Steyn, and Lewis Gregory became Abbott's 10th victim of the match with the final ball before lunch - which the visitors reached at 72-6.

Trescothick accelerated after the interval, passing 26,000 career First Class runs on his way to 50, but having reached his half-century he became the final man out as he played on to Steyn.

Somerset's total of 116 left the home side needing 75, and they made hard work of it to begin with as Craig Overton caused problems.

The seamer removed three of Hampshire's top four - James Vince bagging a pair - as the hosts slipped to 21-3, but Sam Northeast and Jimmy Adams steadied the ship.

Northeast edged Jamie Overton to Marcus Trescothick at second slip on 12, only for Tom Alsop (10*) to join Adams (25*) and see Hampshire home.

Somerset's defeat means Surrey could wrap up the title this week with a win at Worcestershire.