HAMPSHIRE’s future in the Specsavers County Championship’s first division is still in the balance as they go into the final day of the season.

The penultimate day of their must-win match against Durham was delayed by rain before a dramatic afternoon ended with Hampshire on 176-7 in their second innings – a lead of 226 .

Nothing less than a win will do as Lancashire, having been set 347 to beat Warwickshire at Edgbaston, are likely to be the only side they can catch.

But Hampshire’s chances of getting it were reduced as they collapsed against the off-spin of Ryan Pringle, before a seventh-wicket partnership of 57 between Liam Dawson and Lewis McManus ensured that Durham will be chasing 200-plus on the final day.

Hampshire’s spinners had been frustrated by Durham’s lower order, particularly Michael Richardson, when day three eventually began at 12.40pm.

Durham, having been 186-7 at one stage, were finally bowled out for 361 after Richardson shared in stands of 79 and 86 for the eighth and ninth wickets, only to become the county’s first player to be stranded on 99 when, inexplicably, Chris Rushworth tried to sweep Dawson and was trapped lbw.  

Hampshire’s frustration peaked when the ball hit the spare helmet behind Lewis McManus for the second time in the innings - each costing five runs – but Brad Wheal finally ended the ninth-wicket stand with a short ball that Graham Onions fended to Tom Alsop at short leg.

It did not come soon enough for Hampshire to gain the final bonus point, but Rushworth soon followed and all was well while Jimmy Adams and Will Smith were doubling Hampshire’s lead with an opening stand of 50 inside the first ten overs.

Then Adams,  top edged an attempted sweep  for a run-a-ball 30 – and Ryan Pringle responded with five wickets in 45 balls.

Left-hander Tom Alsop (0) was out to the off-spinner for the second time in the match when he edged to Paul Collingwood at first slip.

Another venomous off-break beat James Vince (13) through the gate and clipped the captain’s off bail in Pringle’s next over.

Will Smith (30), who scooped one of his three fours during Hampshire’s encouraging start, soon turned Pringle into the hands of short leg.

Pringle, who took his only other first-class five-for against Hampshire in the corresponding match of last season, continued his dream spell from the Pavilion End by breaking a partnership of 23 in eight overs when Sean Ervine (16) drove straight to Mark Stoneman at cover.

Hampshire had lost six wickets for 58 runs when Ryan McLaren was trapped lbw at the end of the same over.

But Dawson and McManus were excellent and the latter was still there at the close with Mason Crane for company, Gareth Berg having been held back till the final morning.

The skill for Hampshire will be in judging the right time to declare – setting Durham 260 in 85 overs should suffice - assuming they do not collapse again.

Then it will be down to Crane and co...

Durham bowling (second innings): Rushworth 3-0-19-0, Onions 8-1-24-0, Pringle 20-5-64-5, Borthwick 8-0-37-2,  Stokes 6-0-22-0, Carse 2-1-4-0.

Hampshire bowling: McLaren 9-2-24-0, Berg 15-5-36-1, Wheal 16-3-39-4, Dawson 33-4-100-4, Smith 13-4-32-0, Crane 30-3-110-1