Hampshire'S Will Kendall led the fightback against Somerset with an unbeaten 70 to keep his side in contention after a rain-affected day in Bath.

Kendall held his side together with Somerset threatening to cut loose after both captain Robin Smith and Giles White were dismissed towards the close of play by former Hampshire paceman Simon Francis.

Smith's departure left Hampshire on 98-3 but Kendall and Neil Johnson kept out the Somerset attack to reach 149-3 at stumps in their Frizzell County Championship Division One clash.

Poor weather prevented play starting until late afternoon with Somerset captain Jamie Cox putting Hampshire in to bat.

And the decision paid off almost immediately as the home side made the breakthrough in the fifth over.

Richard Johnson's delivery found the edge of Derek Kenway's bat and Peter Bowler pounced at first slip to dismiss the opener for just four runs.

But Kendall and White dug in and quickly pushed the score past 50.

Kendall in particular produced a spirited display, smashing three boundaries off four deliveries from Francis.

White (33) top-edged a cut straight to Keith Dutch in the slips, who made no mistake to leave Hampshire on 88-3.

Smith also looked dangerous until he too succumbed to Francis. The paceman's delivery beat the Hampshire captain and crashed into the stumps, bowling him for six.

However, Johnson's arrival at the crease with his side on 98-3 again steadied the visitors and he battled to support the in-form Kendall.

SCOREBOARD:

Hampshire (first innings)

Kenway c Bowler b Johnson 4

Kendall not out 70

White c Dutch b Francis 33

Smith b Francis 6

Johnson not out 31

Extras: (lb3 nb2) 5

Total: (3 wkts, 48 overs) 149

Fall: 1-6 2-88 3-98

To Bat: Laney, Pothas, Mascarenhas, Udal, Tremlett, Mullally.

Bowling: Johnson 12-5-17-1, Bulbeck 14-2-45-0, Francis 9-2-37-2, Parsons 9-2-31-0, Dutch 4-1-16-0.