Somerset, the current leaders in Division One, encountered stiff opposition from Hampshire on the second day at the Utilita Bowl. The team lost seven wickets for 113 runs and was bowled out for 288. Hampshire then erased Somerset's 50-run lead in their second innings, reaching 146 for one and taking a 96-run lead by the end of the day, with Nick Gubbins remaining unbeaten on 70. James Rew, a potential England player, was the first to fall in the morning session for 86, but his Test aspirations were endorsed by head coach Jason Kerr.
Kerr stated, "He has the ability to play international cricket, having scored a significant number of runs over the years." Kerr has chosen not to use Rew as an opener, a position that may need to be filled this summer, saying, "If he opens the batting, that's great, but the middle order is well-stocked at the international level. A player of his talent should be considered for selection." Hampshire's fightback and Rew's performance have made for an intriguing match.
In other games, Essex and Warwickshire are locked in a tight contest at Edgbaston, while in Division Two, Gloucestershire and Lancashire are engaged in a low-scoring match at Bristol, with the ball dominating the proceedings. An unbroken partnership between Nathan McSweeney and James Sales has kept Northamptonshire in the running against Middlesex.