County Championship: Essex see title hopes hit by Hampshire

Dawson arrived at the crease at 32-4, having been set 267 in 59 overs, and with best mate James Vince put on 184 for the fifth wicket – a record for Hampshire for the wicket against Essex.

Dawson struck his third century of the season, his most in a season, and Vince totted up 89 as Hampshire won at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, for just the fourth time since 1974.

Essex will go into their final fixture against bottom side Northamptonshire, at Wantage Road next week, with a 20-point deficit to leaders Surrey – who face Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Tom Westley’s side had won their last six matches, having only won one of their first six games of the season, but could only watch as Dawson gave them an uphill climb in the final week. 

Essex knocked off the last two Hampshire first innings wickets within five overs as they also picked up what could be a crucial third bowling point.

Kyle Abbott chopped Sam Cook onto his own stumps and Tom Prest fell for 108 when he was stumped – Harmer claiming 6-149.

Essex had a 113-run lead and the dilemma of how many runs and how long they’d need to bowl out Hampshire.

Their first funky decision didn’t pay any dividends as the innately attacking Adam Rossington was promoted to open and lasted just three balls.

Alastair Cook, in what could be his final Chelmsford innings, attempted to score quickly but couldn’t find any timing. Eventually he was put out of his misery when a swish caught an edge behind.

Dan Lawrence, on what is definitely his last home game as an Essex player before he joins Surrey, got things moving with Westley as the duo quickly put on 83 – forced largely to run between the wicket due to Hampshire’s defensive fields cutting off boundary options.

Westley fell to the final ball before lunch, plinking to long on for 45, while Lawrence moved past his 38th half-century for his boyhood county.

The spell after the interval was a blur of swinging bats, players alternating back and forward from the pavilion. In a 21-ball spell, Essex only managed 20 runs but lost five wickets.

Paul Walter was bowled by Dawson the ball after smacking a huge six, Lawrence slogged straight up and was brilliantly held by wicketkeeper Ben Brown and Matt Critchley perished at long on.

Umesh Yadav went six, six, hole out to long on before the declaration came the ball after Harmer slapped to deep cover.

It ultimately meant Hampshire were set 267 runs to win in a minimum of 59 overs, and without the need of collusion or bartering.

A classic Essex fourth-innings rampage looked in store when Toby Albert was sensationally caught behind down the legside by Rossington.

Harmer entered the attack in the fifth over and had three wickets by the end of the 11th over as Hampshire flopped to 32-3.

Fletcha Middleton top-edged a sweep, Nick Gubbins had a leading-edge loop to short extra cover, and having survived a dropped catch the ball before, Prest poked to short leg.

The next 39 overs didn’t go to plan for the hosts as Vince and Dawson colonised the crease, initially getting the run-rate towards what was required – typified by Vince reaching his fifty in 45 balls - before stopping taking risks when the win looked out of sight.

There were chances, though. Vince was put down on 16 by Critchley and Dawson dribbled one through Alastair Cook’s hands.

But otherwise, it was two experienced heads occupying the crease and picking the bad balls to put away and manipulating the field.

The stand reached 184 before Vince finally misjudged a big shot and was caught at cover.

But it barely deterred Dawson, he had a catch not carry to square leg on 97 before reaching his third ton of the season with a guide to the third boundary.

Dawson chipped to short cover with 20 still required from 22 balls, but Ben Brown and Keith Barker maintained the momentum to give Hampshire a memorable victory with five balls to spare.

*by Alex Smith.