James Rew has made 378 County Championship runs so far this summer.

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Utilita Bowl (day three)
Hampshire 238 & 336: Gubbins 83, Brown 66, Lehmann 50; Gregory 5-42
Somerset 288 & 139-3: J Rew 58*; Baker 3-29
Somerset (4 pts) need 148 more runs to win to beat Hampshire (3 pts).

James Rew passed 50 for the fourth time in five County Championship innings as Somerset put themselves on course to beat Hampshire. The eye-catching Rew, whose head coach Jason Kerr has touted for England honours this summer, followed his 86 in the first innings to end the day 58 not out. They followed scores of 64, 122, and 48 in his other three innings this season – with Somerset 148 runs away from chasing 288, with seven wickets still in hand.

Lewis Gregory had earlier taken his first five-wicket haul in three years to restrict Hampshire, despite half-centuries for Nick Gubbins, Jake Lehmann, and Ben Brown. The first two days saw Somerset seemingly in complete control, with Hampshire fighting back and getting their noses in front – all while the pitch swung back and forth from favouring the bat to the ball.

The morning session saw neither side find match momentum, as Hampshire grew their 96-run overnight lead to 215 against an ageing ball, but three wickets kept them in check. Despite Jack Lehmann and Rew looking likely, no player had managed to reach three figures in the first two innings. Like the two previous contenders, Nick Gubbins looked destined to reach three figures. It did not pan out that way. A perfectly played reverse sweep off Jack Leach took him to 83 but jabbed outside next ball to depart.

Australian Lehmann was the next to try to buck the trend. He reached a half-century, for the second time in the match, with another punchy selection of drives and pulls. He raised his bat and, without scoring another run, chopped the pacy Alfie Ogborne onto his own stumps.

County Championship, day three: Rew reaches 50 as Somerset recover chasing 287
Day two: Hampshire fight back well against Somerset
Day one: Bowlers & Rew help Somerset get on top against Hants

Opener Toby Albert had retired hurt after he had extended his knee when taking a quick single on the second evening, but his return was short-lived as Gregory had him leg-before. Ben Mayes was bowled through the gate by Archie Vaughan, but Somerset wrestled back the advantage with the second new ball.

Vaughan tempted Liam Dawson into a loose leg side shot, before Gregory brought himself on, found good movement, and took four more wickets. Ben Brown was the latest candidate to break the century curse, but was stopped on 66 by an inswinger. Kyle Abbott and Eddie Jack were also bowled, before Sonny Baker was lbw – Gregory returning from a pectoral injury that had ruled him out of the opening two rounds in style. This was his first five-wicket haul against Hampshire, despite taking more wickets against the opponent than any other in first-class matches.

In his six overs with the second new ball, during which he swapped ends, he took four wickets for five runs, with overall figures of 5-42. Vaughan saw the 287 target as one to attack, despite there being plenty of time left in the match. The opener got the chase against Essex done and dusted in quick time, and struck six boundaries in a 30 before taking on a Baker short ball and getting out for the second time in the match.

Baker swapped ends and removed the rest of the Somerset top order. Josh Thomas was plumb in front and then Tom Lammonby hooked straight to deep square leg. Not for the first time in the match, or the season, Somerset looked to Rew and Tom Abell to build an important partnership – they once again answered with runs. The pair put on 87, after 101 in the first innings, with Rew doing the majority of the run scoring.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.