Hampshire seam bowler Kyle Abbott registered the best first class figures since 1956 as he picked up 17 wickets in a County Championship Division One match to help his team beat title-chasing Somerset by 136 runs on Wednesday.

The former South African speedster claimed 9-40 and 8-46 to end up with match winning figures of 17-86, the best by a a bowler in first-class cricket since England’s Jim Laker picked up all 10 wickets in an innings and match figures of 19-90 against Australia in Manchester in 1956.

Abbott registered the fourth-best bowling figures in County Championship history to provide a huge setback to Somerset’s hopes of winning the title with one match left in the season.

It hasn’t quite sunk in. It is pretty incredible. Yesterday I didn’t think I’d take nine and I didn’t think I’d take eight today, said the 32-year-old Abbott whose last test appearance for South Africa was in 2017.I reckon that is the best I can bowl.

Somerset dropped to second while Essex moved top of the standings after beating Surrey by an innings and 40 runs.