Jamie Porter claimed the third 10-wicket haul of his career as Essex boosted their LV= Insurance County Championship title hopes while destroying Hampshire’s chances.

Paceman Porter followed up his first-innings five for 37 by snaring five for 46 in the second innings, to finish with match figures of 10 for 83.

It was his first 10-for away from the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford and first since 2018 and in his renaissance season he now has a Division One-leading 47 wickets this season.

If left Essex chasing 83 to win and Kyle Abbott claimed three for 23 asNick Browne (28) and Paul Walter (28 not out took) Essex to their sixth win of the season with a six-wicket victory. 

Hampshire’s gamble to ask for a result pitch backfired as the usual Ageas Bowl seam-friendly surface which flattens out never flattened out.

That meant almost incessant seam movement, coupled with invariable bounce, made batting tricky – typified by Nick Gubbins’ 45 being the highest individual score of the game and only 506 runs coming in total across the four innings.

Hampshire and Essex both knew going into the match that only the winner would realistically be able to challenge Surrey for the title.

Surrey will land on at least 167 points – and more likely 183 – after the conclusion of their clash with Somerset. Essex are now up to 166 points and Hampshire on 135, with 72 points still available.

Hampshire lost their remaining four wickets for nine runs in 25 balls – with Porter and Sam Cook sharing the scalps.

James Fuller’s back foot waft was caught behind to the ninth ball of the day before Abbott last four balls before he was brilliantly caught by a one-handed Simon Harmer pounce at second slip.

Porter added Hampshire to Somerset and Worcestershire in his 10-for victims when John Turner drove to Harmer.

Amongst the churn of batters, Nick Gubbins was still there having only moved his overnight total from 44 to 45. In seeing genuine No.11 Mohammad Abbas arrive at the crease he aborted his patient style and was bowled attempted to slog across the line. Hampshire bowled out for 131.

Essex had lost three wickets in their chase of 30 against Kent last week, albeit rushed by incoming rain. They threatened a similar wobble at the Ageas Bowl.

Abbott picked up Alastair Cook nicking behind a drive to the 10th ball of the innings before Tom Westley – the Division’s second highest run scorer – clipped to midwicket in the fourth over.

But Hampshire’s early jubilation was drowned by Browne grafting with Paul Walter – the pair chalking off 33 runs for the third wicket.

Browne was put down at mid off by Liam Dawson before eventually falling lbw to Abbas but the damage he had made through his four boundaries was already fatal to Hampshire’s chances.

Matt Critchley had the top of his off stump kissed by a beautiful Abbott in-ducker and Michael Pepper was softly dropped at square leg second ball with 29 still needed.

But Pepper and Walter guided Essex to victory in the extra half an hour before lunch.

Essex head coach Anthony McGrath said: “I think it is up there with one of our best wins. Doug Bracewell went down over night before the first day, Robin Das still had his neck and then Shane Snater went down on a wicket you needed all the seam available.

“To play with 10 men from pretty much straight away and come away on the right side is an incredible effort.

“We also had two guys go down over night with sickness, Walter and Critchley, so we really were down to bare bones so I’m proud of the guys.

“Anything over 120 would have been really tough on there.

“Jamie [Porter] worked really hard in the winter and has come into the season for the first time for the first time fit and in rhythm. When he is fit and bowling in full rhythm he is really hard to keep out especially with the seaming ball.

“With the run we are on we just want to keep playing but we knew the schedule going into the season. We need to make sure when we come back from the Hundred and 50-overs that the lads are ready to scrap for three games.

“It is still in Surrey’s hands but we will do everything we can to try and chase them down.

“The pitch wasn’t ideal. I don’t think there was any intent there but it hasn’t made it a fair battle between bat and ball. I don’t want to criticise it strongly but anyone who was here knows it wasn’t ideal for first class cricket.”