An accomplished century by Sean Ervine has given Hampshire a scent of their first LV=County Championship victory of the season, against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The Zimbabwean all-rounder struck a near-flawless 102 (144 balls, 14 fours, one six) - his 17th first-class century - to first steer his side out of trouble and then turn the pressure on to the home team.

Hampshire were all out for 339 in their second innings, leaving Warwickshire a target of 379, which would be the biggest score of the match, in a day and 11 overs.

The Bears negotiated those 11 overs without loss and will begin the last day on 47. On a pitch which is flattening out, but on which wickets have fallen in flurries at times during, all results remain possible.

The third day followed the pattern of an enthralling tussle which has ebbed and flowed throughout.

In the morning, the home side was well on top after Hampshire slumped to 108 for five, only 147 ahead. Rikki Clarke removed Liam Dawson and James Vince with successive balls and Jeetan Patel had Will Smith stumped and Adam Wheater brilliantly caught at slip by Clarke when the ball looped up off an inside-edged reverse-sweep.

Hampshire were in trouble but Michael Carberry (81, 193 balls, ten fours, one six) stayed firm and found an equally resilient partner in Ervine. Batting positively against Patel, they each hit the New Zealander for six and added 86 in 29 overs before Carberry, having completed his tenth score of 50-plus against Warwickshire in first-class cricket, played on to Clarke.

Ervine continued to play with power and purpose found further productive partners in Gareth Berg and Danny Briggs with whom he added 60 and 61. Berg struck a forceful 36 before slicing Keith Barker's first ball after tea to William Porterfield at gully. Briggs added a breezy 33 to his first-innings 48 before skying Chris Wright to mid-off.

Ervine perished to the next ball to a fine tumbling catch by Tim Ambrose, but even then Hampshire's last pair Andre Adams and James Tomlinson added 24 - a frustrating little stand for Warwickshire which might just have lifted the target out of their reach.

Warwickshire's openers weathered a testing burst from Tomlinson to survive intact, trim the target by 47, Ian Westwood moving sweetly to 37 from 39 balls, and send a fine match into its final day wide open.