HAMPSHIRE failed to bounce back from their Essex annihilation as they were bowled out for 162 by Somerset - their lowest Taunton total for 17 years.

Jack Leach delivered a strong reminder of his undoubted talent as 12 wickets fell to spin on the first day of the Specsavers’ County Championship match.

The 25-year-old left-arm spinner doubled his season’s tally as Hampshire were bowled out for 162 inside 50 overs, a week after being skittled for 115 and 148 at Chelmsford.

It is their lowest total at the country’s most batter-friendly ground since 2000, when current director of cricket Giles White top scored with 44 out of 142.

By the close, Somerset, for whom Dean Elgar scored 60, trailed by five runs with as many first innings wickets in hand after Liam Dawson took 3-48.

A morning that began brightly for Hampshire finished with Somerset firmly on top.

Having won the toss, the visitors, looked in precious little trouble in reaching 34-0 in the 14th over.

However, by the time the two sides sat down for a lunch, Hampshire were 100-6.

Openers Michael Carberry and Dawson got the board moving inside the first hour before Dawson (13), carelessly pulled a short ball from Leach to Dom Bess at square leg.

Carberry (17) soon followed and five overs later, James Vince (11) who perished to slow left armer Leach.

A fortnight after his 156 on the same ground in the One-day Cup, Rilee Rossouw made a two-ball duck, another scalp for Leach.

Sean Ervine (8) was bowled by Bess shortly after.

Lewis McManus also went before lunch, caught by James Hildreth at short leg for a first-ball duck. Although the wicket was taking considerable turn, it had been a less than impressive display of batting.

Somerset finally bowled out the visitors for 162 off 49.1 overs.

Leach, who had Gareth Berg stumped with no addition to the lunchtime, sent back George Bailey (49) with a delightful delivery that pitched on leg stump and struck off.

Kyle Abbott’s 54-ball 49 included four sixes and he soon dismissed Marcus Trescothick.

But Elgar and Somerset captain Tom Abell added 75 for the second wicket.

When Abell (40) was caught behind off Dawson, Hampshire clawed their way back into the game with three further wickets falling before the close.

James Hildreth (7) was lbw to Abbott and, after becoming the game’s first batsman to reach 50 (74 balls), Elgar (60), fell to Dawson as did Peter Trego.

Hampshire coach Craig White said: "I thought it was an amazing day's cricket. 

"There was certainly a fair bit of spin out there, but wee are a little disappointed with the total we posted with the bat.

"Having said that, to get them five wickets down at the close, was excellent on our par. To be honest, had things have gone our way, it could have been seven or eight down.

"Tomorrow we need to have good first hour and to make sure that we are out there batting again as quickly as possible.

"It's pretty tough to bat on it, but tomorrow is a new day."

Leach said: "Maybe the day has finished slightly in our favour, but there is a lot of cricket left in the game and a lot of hard work for us too.

"It was certainly a wicket that helped the spinners and I thought Bessie (Dom Bess) bowled brilliantly and Dawson too.

"Personally, I was pleased, it's always nice when you get a few wickets.

"As far as the wicket is concerned, it's important not to presume anything.

"It could get worse or it could improve over the next couple of days. We just need to bowl our best ball each time and bat well.

"We are closing in on their total and I think the remaining batsmen should take heart from some of the innings they played last year when the tail wagged. It's important to get a good lead if we can."

Somerset bowling: L Gregory 6-2-12-0, C Overton 8-3-16-1, Leach 20.1-5-78-6, DM Bess 11-2-45-3, J Overton 4-1-7-0.

Hampshire bowling: RJW Topley 4-0-23-0, KJ Abbott 10-2-33-2, LA Dawson 18-2-48-3, MS Crane 10-0-45-0, SM Ervine 2-2-0-0