Trescothick closes in on double ton

Somerset 405 for 5 v Hampshire 285
Scorecard

Marcus Trescothick returned to form in resounding fashion with an unbeaten 193 as Somerset gained control of their match with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. Former England opener Trescothick had endured a miserable start to the season, with a total of 48 first-class runs and a top score of 21.

But all that was forgotten as Trescothick dominated the Hampshire attack, batting through the day for an innings total so far of six hours and 42 minutes. Somerset, who had lost their opening two matches of the season, ended the second day 120 ahead at 405 for 5 in their first innings in response to Hampshire's 285 all out.

Somerset began the day at 40 without loss and experienced none of the difficulties apparently facing Hampshire when they batted on a typically gentle Rose Bowl wicket. David Griffiths gave Hampshire some early hope when he had Arul Suppiah (19) caught at the wicket with only seven added to the overnight total.

But then Trescothick took control, dominating stands of 70 with Nick Compton for the second wicket and 80 for the third with James Hildreth. Sean Ervine knocked back Compton's off stump at 117 and Hildreth mistimed a drive to give South African Friedel de Wet a return catch at 197.

Trescothick lifted de Wet over long leg for six and featured in a partnership worth 131 in 30 overs for the fourth wicket with Craig Kieswetter, who made 58. Kieswetter went at 328 in the 84th over, giving de Wet another sharp return catch, but there was no stopping the Somerset captain.

Trescothick reached 150 out of 330 and added to Hampshire's problems by guiding debutant Alex Barrow through to 14 before he was the last wicket to fall, leg before to spinner Danny Briggs. At the close Trescothick had so far faced 319 balls and hit 28 fours and two sixes with the Hampshire attack already wilting.

Hampshire captain Dominic Cork, still feeling the affects of a groin problem, bowled only 12 overs while de Wet was the pick of the Hampshire bowlers with two wickets for 59 from 17 overs.