Hampshire 120 and 122 for six (Gubbins 44*) lead Essex 169 (Rossington 39, Turner 3-23, Abbott 3-37) by 73 runs

Hampshire seemed getting ready to a fourth defeat of the season, which might have all however ended their title hopes, having given up a 49-run first-innings lead and misplaced 4 second-innings wickets earlier than wiping out the deficit.

Jamie Porter was the primary architect of the destruction with one other three wickets to go along with his first-innings 5 for 37, however Gubbins confirmed a excessive stage of management of a tough pitch to achieve the best particular person rating of the match up to now.

When the day-ending rain got here at tea, he was six runs shy of a fifth half-century of the season and helped his facet to a 73-run lead.

Essex misplaced their 4 remaining wickets for simply 24 runs because the pitch misplaced its inexperienced tinge and have become a a lot slower floor, albeit nonetheless favouring the bowlers with flip and invariable bounce coming to the fore.

Shane Snater had been helped off the sphere simply over 24 hours beforehand, having broken his calf whereas bowling, however bravely reappeared with Michael Pepper as his runner. He lasted simply three balls earlier than he was lbw to Dawson.

Essex's 169 had put them on prime within the match earlier than their new-ball bowling rammed house their dominance. Ian Holland was the newest member to get again on the Hampshire opening batter merry-go-round towards Nottinghamshire final day out, and took his probability with a sensational 138 not out.

But the irritating inconsistency on the prime of the order, which has seen Felix Organ and Joe Weatherley discarded this season, struck as his first-innings three was joined by a second innings 4 as Porter had him lbw. Fletcha Middleton, who has opened all through the season, solely made eight earlier than Cook stung his pads.

Gubbins had prime scored for Hampshire within the first innings with 25 and demonstrated nice endurance, and belief in his exemplary approach, by taking 13 balls to get off the mark. He placed on 34 with James Vince - who suffered a blow to the field when the ball misbehaved - earlier than the captain hoicked to lengthy leg off Paul Walter's first ball, the tall left-armer selecting him up in each innings.

Ben Brown was unconvincing in his edge to gully, Dawson filthy with himself after going again to Harmer and dragging on earlier than Organ was Porter's eighth sufferer of the match with one other leg-before.

Gubbins, who had an formative years when an edge went by means of second slip, responded to that wicket by crouching onto his haunches and squatting a praying pose with the lead at a nominal 41.

His prayer was answered within the type of James Fuller, who joined him in an unbroken 32-run stand which nudged Hampshire in direction of setting Essex a goal of word. However, the guests stay heavy favourites.