Somerset will be looking to their overnight batsmen Ian Blackwell(28 not out) and Rob Turner to build upon their unbeaten fifth wicket partnership to steady the innings after they had slipped to 51 for 5, before bad light stopped play for the day at 5.50pm with the score on 79 for 5.

Earlier Hampshire had taken their score onto 153 for 3 before wickets started to fall and they were eventually dismissed for 252 in early afternoon, with Will Kendall making 88.

For Somerset, fast bowler Richard Johnson who was returning from injury had the impressive figures of 19.3 overs 3 wickets for 32, with Matt Bulbeck picking up 3 for 68.

At the end of the day Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "It was an average day for us today. We did well to bowl them out for 252 after they looked to be in a good position on 150 for 3, then we started to put the ball in the right area."

He continued: "When we batted they put the ball in the right area straight away and took wickets, but we had a good fight back from Rob and Blackie, and now we have got a scrap on our hands."

© SOMERSET