Keith Barker's half-dozen leads Hampshire to victory as Somerset fold

Somerset bowled out for 69 in second innings as Barker stars with bat and ball

ECB Reporters Network21-May-2022

Keith Barker played key roles with bat and ball as Hampshire completed a resounding ten-wicket LV= County Championship win over Somerset inside three days at Taunton.The 35-year-old left-arm seamer began by contributing a valuable 36 to help his side extend their first innings total from an overnight 144 for 5 to 280 all out, Aneurin Donald making 57 and James Fuller a rapid 38 to give Hampshire a lead of 69 on first innings.Barker then got to work with the ball, combining extravagant swing with nagging accuracy to claim 6 for 27 from an unbroken 13-over opening spell as Somerset crashed to 25 for 6 before being bowled out with the scores level.Opener Felix Organ hit the required single for victory off the fourth ball of Hampshire’s second innings and his team took 21 points to Somerset’s four to enhance an impressive start to the Championship campaign, keeping them on the tail of early leaders Surrey.The day began with the visitors trailing on first innings by 67. Ben Brown failed to add to his overnight score of 19 before being pinned lbw by Peter Siddle with the total on 152.At 154 for 6 in the 59th over, the ball had to be changed for the second time in the innings. By then Donald was showing a desire to get on the front foot, profiting from some sweetly timed drives as he and Barker ate into Somerset’s lead.A key moment came at 195 for 6 when Donald, on 29, was dropped by Craig Overton at gully off Josh Davey. It was an error the home side could ill afford and Barker had moved confidently to 26 when greeting the introduction of England spinner Jack Leach with a six and a four off his first two balls.The first of those shots put Hampshire in front. The next delivery saw Barker caught at midwicket, but Donald went to a 74-ball half-century before falling to the second new ball, bowled by Siddle.Kyle Abbott fell cheaply to Overton, but Fuller ensured Hampshire of a meaningful advantage, striking four fours and two sixes as Somerset bowled poorly during a last wicket stand of 24 with Mohammad Abbas.Overton and Siddle ended with four wickets each. But momentum was with Hampshire and a series of wretched shots contributed to Somerset’s nightmare second innings, their batting line-up lacking the technique to cope with the swinging ball.