Hants Need Spirit of Northants to Gain Victory

Jimmy Adams will need to lead a big batting performance on day four

Report from day three of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Essex at The Ageas Bowl

Hampshire v Essex
LV= County Championship
Day Three: Thursday 5 September
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Hampshire trail Essex by 353 runs
with seven wickets remaining in the second innings
Essex: 180 & 475
Hampshire: 229 & 73-3 (20 ovs)
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams*, Carberry, Shafayat, Katich, Dawson, Vince, Ervine, Bates+, Balcombe, Tomlinson, Griffiths
Essex Team
Westley, Mickleburgh, Shah, Pettini, ten Doeschate, Foster, Wheater, Napier, Topley, Chmabers, Craddock

Hampshire need to score 354 to beat Essex on day four of this LV= County Championship match at The Ageas Bowl, but they’ll have to do it with only seven wickets remaining.

They were initially set 427 for victory in a minimum of 116 overs when Essex finished on 475 all out shortly after the break for tea. But their run chase didn’t start as well as they would have hoped, reaching stumps on 73-3.

Jimmy Adams’ side will take inspiration from the captain’s match-winning 149 against Northamptonshire in mid-August as Hants scored 329-2 – only 30 shy of what is required here – in 70.1 overs to claim victory; the skipper is still in on 36* alongside former opening partner, Liam Dawson (25*) overnight.

They’ll also be acutely aware that nothing short of a win will do for their promotion hopes after challengers Yorkshire wrapped up victory at Glamorgan and Kent moved themselves into a strong position against Derbyshire.

Catch Up:

Preview:	Adams Wants Good Start in Final Home Championship Fixture
Day One:	50-Wicket Balcombe Helps Hants on their Way
Day Two:	Runs in the Sun but Not Much Fun for Hants

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