90.3 down the track, spins into a slam to leg, misses the ball as it spins through the gate, and off come the bails! A fine innings ends, and Rossington is fairly legging it to the dressing-room, almost before he's broken the wicket ... I suspect he might be about to open... Cook and Lawrence are sharpish into the pavilion too... the intrigue mounts! 334/9

87.1 poles akimbo! Abbott wafts loosely off the back foot and splatters his own stumps with a big inside-edge. Cook strikes early to leave Hampshire nine-down. The game is afoot... 328/9

9.4 back of a length, Cook climbs into a pull and it's a thin tickle through to the keeper! A low-key departure, maybe for the last time at Chelmsford? Cook troops off to appreciative applause, but resists any urge to give a wave of his bat to the crowd... we shall wait and see 29/2

1.5 stepped to the pitch, had a prod, Abbas finds some away-movement and snicks through to the keeper. Well, that didn't quite come off 4/1

21.4 makes room to leg, inside-out and over the covers... Dawson steadies himself in the deep to take a well-judged catch, and that will be lunch. A decent hand from Westley, but Essex will be looking for another quick injection of runs after the break 112/3

25.1 huge swipe across the line, a steepling top-edge gives Brown a lot to do, sprinting back towards fine leg, but he judges it well. Lawrence's work is done, and so too his time as an Essex batter at Chelmsford. The crowd give him an appreciative send-off as he makes his way up the stairs 133/5

24.3 another big wipe and this time he's bowled... but the intent was plain. The declaration won't be far away now 131/4

25.6 another thrash down the ground, hitting up into the off-side, but Dawson is set back in the deep to swallow the chance 136/6

27.5 back of a length, blatted hard and flat out to deep cover... a long boundary out there, and there's a man lurking ten yards in 151/8

26.4 Smashed high into the leg-side... and holes out to long-on! 12 from 3 and out... give that man another contract 149/7

1.4 down the leg-side and a stunning grab from Rossington! Flings himself to his left, clings on to a fast-travelling deflection, full stretch in one glove, and now Essex are in the mix! 11/1

8.2 Another one down! Middleton tries to launch one across the line, gets a fat top-edge on the sweep and Porter at deep square leg reaches forward to gather! Essex sense an opening now 25/2

8.5 closes the face on the length ball, and a leading edge loops out to cover! Harmer has two in the over, and now It Is On! 26/3

49.6 thrashed with an open face, a massive steepler into the covers. Lawrence composes himself well and takes a vital chance! It's an opening, and it's a closing. The end of a brilliant 184-run stand that might yet have sunk Essex's title hopes 216/5

10.4 Not very costly is the answer! Harmer strikes one ball after the drop and the first-innings centurion is gone! Pandemonium among the close catchers! On the back foot, playing with the turn but with no conviction. A simple steer into Nick Browne's pocket at short leg! 32/4

55.2 clattered at Browne's midriff at short cover, and he clings on with a juggle! Here ends a mighty innings, but has he given Essex a sniff with victory looming? 247/6

57.4 runs past the glory shot! Looked to launch it into the Hayes Close, but can't connect. Rossington whips off the bails and there'll be a new man in Critchley's sights 265/7