Old boy McLean causes mayhem as Hampshire struggle in the gloom

Former Hampshire overseas star Nixon McLean created mayhem at The Rose Bowl today when he removed the home sides' first three batsmen without conceding a run with sheer pace that had spectators wondering why he was still not in the West Indies squad. This came after Somerset had earlier been bowled out for 308.

Hampshire bowler Chris Tremlett, who had limped off on Wednesday did not take the field this morning. He had been for a scan on his back and returned later in the day to bat, albeit with a runner.

The weather in the morning started bright as Jamie Cox continued his vigil and after an hours' play, the seventh wicket century partnership was broken when Dimitri Mascarenhas forced Keith Dutch to edge to Simon Katich at first slip.

Seventeen-year-old Gareth Andrew was out lbw to the Aussie before McLean played in his usual style with 16 runs from 16 balls. But he fell driving back to the bowler Mascarenhas.

Simon Francis, another Hampshire old boy, then fell to give Katich his third wicket to leave Cox not out on 127. He had batted for seven hours and twenty minutes.

John Crawley fell to McLean's first ball, being palpably lbw having been beaten by sheer pace and Kenway continued his disappointing run when he too fell in the same way. Robin Smith faced just six balls before edging the ball onto his own stumps.

Katich and Will Kendall started a recovery, posting a half century stand but Katich became another lbw victim, this time to Francis.

Nic Pothas, the in-form batsman of the side, joined Kendall and both gained in confidence to share 74 runs. But Kendall edged to Keith Dutch to give Andrew his first first-class wicket, just one run short of a deserved half century and the youngster followed this with a further two wickets - Hampshire losing three batsmen for just two runs.

Hampshire, still requiring another 36 runs to avoid the follow on, must have been relieved as the umpires declared bad light, with 24 overs lost at the end of the day with the gloom spreading across The Rose Bowl.