Blackwell puts Somerset in charge

Ian Blackwell's determined ton put Somerset firmly in the box seat at the Rose Bowl

Ian Blackwell's second LV County Championship century of the season helped Somerset towards a first-innings lead over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

At the close of the third day Blackwell was unbeaten on 104 as Somerset finished 69 ahead with three wickets remaining.

Blackwell reached the 20th century of his career with his ninth four and had faced 174 balls at stumps, his total also including a crunching a six over long-off off spinner Imran Tahir.

Somerset went eagerly in search of quick runs after a large portion of the first two days had been lost to rain.

They resumed on 41 without loss in their first innings in reply to Hampshire's 316, and wasted no time in attempting to pick up the bonus points they needed to go top temporarily of the Division One table.

They were pegged back at the start by left-arm pace bowler James Tomlinson, who removed opener Arul Suppiah and Zander De Bruyn before Somerset began to take control around the formidable figure of former England opener Marcus Trescothick.

Trescothick was in typically belligerent form, smiting 11 fours and a six - off Liam Dawson - on his way to 65 before sweeping Dawson to Chris Benham at midwicket.

England Under-19 star Dawson then superbly ran out James Hildreth with a direct hit from cover after the Somerset batsman had hit five fours in his half-century.

Tahir removed Wes Durston at 197 leg before trying to sweep and Craig Kieswetter was caught at bat-pad by Jimmy Adams off Tahir for 28.

But then Blackwell was joined by Peter Trego to take the game away from Hampshire in an aggressive stand of 88 for the seventh wicket.

In the process both reached their half-centuries, overtaking Hampshire's total as they did so, before Trego became Tahir's third victim at 339 when he was adjudged leg before.

But Blackwell was in no mood to slow down and, with Alfonso Thomas, shared an eighth-wicket stand of 46 which remained unbroken at the close.

Tahir was the most successful of the Hampshire bowlers on a good batting surface, claiming 3-125 from 37 overs while Tomlinson took 2-77, but Somerset were firmly in control.

Thomas was 19 not out but content to let Blackwell dominate the Hampshire bowling, which was lacking the cutting edge of injured England bowler Chris Tremlett.