Jake Libby’s gritty and unbeaten century could not prevent Hampshire taking control on Day Three of the Rothesay County Championship clash, as Worcestershire were made to toil in the afternoon sun.
Libby’s stand-out century could not see Worcestershire into the lead despite early promise, as his side were bowled out for 249.
With a deficit of 44, the home side battled hard throughout the afternoon as the visitors batted through the day with relative comfort, as Adam Finch and Matthew Waite made the only inroads for the Pears.
Nick Gubbins then scored an unbeaten 55 to see his side to 139-2 at the close, with the home side up against it heading into the final day.
With a lengthy delay to the start of proceedings on the third morning of the match, play was unable to resume until 12:30pm, with heavy overnight rain meaning the outfield needed some extra attention before the sides could commence.
After such a dominant end the day previous, losing Adam Hose to a strangle down the legside in just the second over of day three was not part of the Worcestershire agenda in their search for a healthy first innings score.
Hose had to make way however, for a very well made 82, unable to add to his overnight score, as Brett D’Oliveira entered the fray with his side well-set at 187-2, and crucially, Jake Libby still not-out on 70 at the other end.
The skipper scrapped for 12 deliveries, before he too fell off the bowling of Sonny Baker courtesy of an excellent low catch by Tom Prest at backward point.
The hosts reeled as they lost Ethan Brookes soon after with the Pears stuttering at 189-5.
The home side navigated their way to lunch at 204-5, with Libby 77 not-out, joined by Matthew Waite.
The pair resumed after the interval with aplomb, continuing their low-risk approach as they looked to chip away at the lead, until the partnership was ended after adding 34, when Waite was caught behind for a cautious 21 off 56 deliveries.
Tom Taylor joined Libby, but failed to survive the final over before the new ball was taken, as part-timer Nick Gubbins trapped the Worcestershire-man LBW without scoring.
Ben Allison made his way to the middle, with the home side 225-7, still 68 adrift with any hopes of parity in the match resting on vice-captain Jake Libby.
Allison looked confident, before he too was pinned in front by seamer Kyle Abbott, leaving the home side in real danger at 236-8, but with Libby edging towards three-figures and still occupying the crease, the Pears were in the contest.
After losing Adam Finch, Libby remained with last-man, Khurram Shahzad for company, as he faced up to Eddie Jack on 98 not-out.
With the tension palpable, Libby skewed a drive away over mid-off, returning for the second run required as he raised his arms aloft to his teammates on the dressing room balcony, as his 235-ball stay at the crease marked the first century by a Worcestershire player at Visit Worcestershire New Road this summer.
Hampshire lost Joe Weatherley in the 11th over of their reply, when he was LBW to a full ball from Waite, but continued onwards to pass fifty midway through the afternoon.
At 76-1, the hosts needed a breakthrough and with the Hampshire lead passing 120, it was Adam Finch who cued scenes of celebration when he forced an edge off the bat of Fletcha Middleton, who was caught comfortably by Gareth Roderick behind.
Nick Gubbins made his way to a comfortable half-century as the evening drew to a close, as he and Tilak Varma batted through to stumps with Hampshire in control at 139-2, with the home side disappointed after letting such a promising start to the day come to a close with the Pears behind by 183-runs and eight-wickets still required if they are to force a result.
