Abbott's Stunning Six-For Helps Hampshire Push Forward On Day Two

Kyle Abbott claimed his fourth five-wicket haul of the season as Hampshire pushed forward on day two of their Specsavers County Championship clash.

Abbott (6-20) tore through the visitors’ lower-order as Essex were dismissed for just 76 in their first innings, with Hampshire captain George Bailey then enforcing the follow-on.

In reply, an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 127 runs between Lawrence (78*) and Bopara (52*) gave Essex a lead of 30 as they moved to 208-3 at the close of play at the The Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire continued from where they left off last night, with Abbott taking just four balls to make the breakthrough, sending Lawrence's (11) off-stump cartwheeling.

Ryan ten Doeschate (26) and James Foster hit a flurry of boundaries, but their  stand was ended when the former was pinned in front to give Abbott his fourth scalp, leaving Essex on 69-7.

Abbott then claimed five-wicket haul is style, trapping Simon Harmer (4) and Neil Wagner (0) in front in consecutive deliveries, with Essex 30 runs behind the follow-on target.

Ian Holland (1-20) picked up the final Essex wicket of Foster (9), as the visitors were dismissed for 76, their lowest total since 2014 and their lowest ever score at the The Ageas Bowl.

The follow-on was enforced by the hosts, and the wickets continued to tumble, with Gareth Berg having Varun Chopra (5) caught behind in the third over of his spell.

Tom Westley and Nick Browne dug in and ensured there were no further alarms, guiding the visitors to 22-1 at lunch.

The Essex pair rode the early storm, and reaped the rewards with a flurry of boundaries early into the afternoon session, so Liam Dawson was introduced for the first time in the game.

The spinner took just 13 balls to make an impact, with the former Essex loanee trapping Browne (24) in front as the visitors moved onto 54-2 and still needing 124 runs to make Hampshire bat again.

Dan Lawrence and Westley (36) looked to attack Dawson, but that was the fate of their own downfall, but the latter offered the spinner a sharp return catch as Essex slipped to 81-3.

Lawrence and Ravi Bopara then came together, and frustrated the Hampshire bowlers with their resistance, whilst also moving their side into three figures, guiding their side to 118-3 at the interval.

Lawrence moved to a dogged half-century shortly afterwards, with the youngster bringing up his first fifty against Hampshire as Essex moved to within single figures of a lead.

The visitors ensured that Hampshire would bat again, as Lawrence's partnership with Bopara moved into three figures and the latter then moved to his half-century shortly after guiding his side beyond 200.

Bad light then brought a premature end to proceedings on the second day, but Hampshire will be hopeful of securing further Essex wickets tomorrow as they aim for a crucial victory.