Edwards Burst Keeps Hampshire In The Hunt After Day Three

Fidel Edwards took two quick wickets to swing the momentum back in Hampshire’s favour after a rain-affected third day of their County Championship tie with Essex at the The Ageas Bowl.

Edwards (2-46) bowled with pace and aggression to removeboth Ravi Bopara (57) and centurion Dan Lawrence (101) in the space of 16 deliveries as Essex moved from 228-3 to 243-5.

The hosts made a probing start to the day and quickly decided to take the new ball in bowler-friendly conditions on the south coast.

However, just eight overs were possible before light drizzle started falling, so the players left the field, with Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara adding 18 runs in the brief morning session.

The rain continued to fall into the afternoon session, but stopped at 4:30pm an after an initial inspection from the umpires, play was to resume at 5:20pm with 12 overs remaining in the day.

Edwards took just three balls to mark his mark, luring Bopara (57) into a drive, with the Essex batsman edging it to James Vince at second slip to end a 147-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Dan Lawrence (101) moved to a determined century, but lasted just two more deliveries before he gloved a vicious bouncer from Edwards to Tom Alsop behind the stumps, reducing Essex to 243-5.

The Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate (5*) and night-watchman Jamie Porter (1*) were the unbeaten batsman at the close with Essex 247-5 (69 runs ahead) at stumps.