Tom Taylor’s superb figures of 4-42 helped bowl Hampshire out for 221 in their first innings, before enforcing the follow-on as Worcestershire head into the final day requiring seven wickets to secure a memorable Rothesay County Championship victory.
With support from Adam Finch (2-19) and debutant Callum Parkinson (2-66), the away side bowled with intensity and diligence, wrapping up the hosts innings before Tea on Day Three.
After enforcing the follow-on, the away side took three more scalps in the evening session, as Hampshire closed the day 86-3.
Heading into the final day, the visitors have three full sessions in the sunshine to take the remaining wickets in what has so far been a near perfect display.
Worcestershire continued their terrific bowling performance from the night previous, as Tom Taylor grabbed his third wicket of the innings when he had Hampshire’s skipper, Ben Brown, well-caught at slip by Henry Nicholls for 12.
After a relative period of calm ensued, the bowlers continued to probe away in search of a fifth breakthrough before the lunch interval.
Debutant Callum Parkinson bowled with discipline and accuracy, as Liam Dawson and Tilak Varma added 48 for the fourth-wicket.
It was however, the returning Adam Finch who delivered for his side, as his lively spell brought about the big wicket of Dawson, when a spearing yorker trapped the batter in front.
The delivery tailed back beautifully, and was just reward for Finch, who after a lengthy spell away from the side, celebrated joyfully when Dawson walked back to the changing room with his side 112-5.
Hampshire made it to lunch without any further damage, as Worcestershire’s search for more afternoon wickets would resume their opponents five down for 140.
The sun continued to beam down over the Utilita Bowl when the players returned to the field for the afternoon session, with the pitch beginning to show slight signs of deterioration.
Parkinson continued to twirl away from one end, creating some half chances along the way, as both Hampshire batters chipped away at the 500-plus run deficit.
Ben Allison (0-42) and Matthew Waite (0-22) worked tirelessly in pursuit of a sixth-wicket but their efforts went unrewarded until the 77th over of the innings, when the picture changed in dramatic style.
In a dramatic 13-minute spell, Worcestershire snatched three more wickets, to reduce Hampshire to 195-8.
Shortly after Tilak reached his fifty, the momentum of the afternoon was swung back in the favour of the Pears, as Jake Libby cut-off a mistimed cover drive from the Hampshire batter and threw down the stumps with a direct hit from mid-off, sparking scenes of jubilation amongst the fielding side.
Three balls later and Parkinson had his first wicket in Worcestershire colours, as James Fuller chipped up a full-length delivery in tame fashion to Adam Hose at extra cover to depart for a golden-duck.
Bowling for the first time in the match, Ethan Brookes then got in on the action when he removed Tom Prest for 48, as he gloved a short-length delivery behind to Gareth Roderick.
Tom Taylor returned to the attack, as the visitors biggest threat so far with the ball, and it didn’t take him long to add to his three-wicket haul, as he produced a booming in-swinger to rattle Kyle Abbot’s stumps, as Worcestershire moved within one-wicket of enforcing the follow-on.
Parkinson concluded proceedings when he pinned Currie LBW, to dismiss Hampshire for 221, as the Pears took stock of the fact they were now required ten-wickets in four sessions to complete one of the most vital and famous wins in the Club’s history.
Trailing by 458-runs, Hampshire were forced to follow-on, and were unable to stop the growing Worcestershire momentum.
Shortly after reaching an opening stand of 50, Ali Orr was removed in bizarre circumstances, as he was out hit-wicket off a back of a length Adam Finch delivery, when he trod on his own stump.
With their tails once again up, and bowling changed frequent in the heat, Finch helped himself to a second wicket of the innings when he had Middleton caught by Ethan Brookes after a rising ball squared him up.
Loanee Parkinson, continued a dreamy passage for his new side, when he removed the stubborn Nick Gubbins with a pearler of a delivery that beat his defences and clipped his off-stump, sending the away side wheeling away in celebration.
The late burst of wickets left Hampshire 86-3, and sliding out of the contest quickly, with Worcestershire knowing that another positive day in the sunshine tomorrow could secure them a vital victory in their bid for County Championship Division One survival.
