Sonny Baker’s five-wicket haul and a Nick Gubbins half-century helped drive Hampshire into the ascendency on day three of the County Championship match against Worcestershire.
Baker’s morning burst of three-wickets saw him to figures of 5-72, as Jake Libby’s 100 not out could not see Worcestershire into the lead despite early promise, as his side were bowled out for 249.
With a lead of 44, the visiting side batted through the day with relative comfort on a flattening wicket, as Joe Weatherly and Fletcha Middleton made early progress for their side.
Nick Gubbins then scored an unbeaten 55 to see his side to 139-2 at the close, with the away side well in the hunt for a third County Championship victory of the season.
With a lengthy delay to the start of proceedings on the third morning of the match, Hampshire enjoyed an excellent start to the day as youngster Sonny Baker produced an eye-catching three wicket burst to reduce Worcestershire to 189-5.
The visitors welcomed a stroke of luck in the second over of the day when Adam Hose feathered a strangle down the legside, to depart without adding to his overnight score, before Baker picked up the wickets of Brett D’Oliveira (1) and Ethan Brookes (0) as the hosts reeled under the clouds at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Searching for their first County Championship win since mid-May, Hampshire began the afternoon session in similar vein to the morning, with Libby watching his side fall behind in the contest.
Matthew Waite helped add 34 with the Worcestershire opener, before he nicked off to James Fuller for a cautious 21 as the Division One strugglers watched another promising position fall away beneath them as they limped to 223-6.
Part-timer Nick Gubbins was thrown the ball in the 80th over of the innings as the visitors looked to move things on before taking the new ball but were overjoyed when Tom Taylor was pinned lbw in an innocuous over as the home side slid further behind the eight-ball.
Hampshire tightened their grip on the match, as Kyle Abbott (1-27) and Baker removed Ben Allison and Adam Finch, with Libby 98 not out and his side still trailing by 46-runs.
Libby added the two runs required to reach a gritty century off 235 balls, registering the first century by a Worcestershire player at Visit Worcestershire New Road this summer.
Baker capped a fine individual performance as he returned in the next over to secure his five-wicket haul and ensure his side took a healthy lead of 44-runs into their second innings, with Worcestershire all-out one run short of a batting bonus-point.
Hampshire lost Weatherley in the 11th over of their reply, when he was lbw to a full ball from Waite but marched on unphased to pass fifty with comfort.
Middleton got in and showed signs of extending his good form from the first innings but was unable to capitalise on his positive start as he was caught behind off an Adam Finch delivery, with his side 120-runs in front.
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 total control at 139-2, with a commanding 183-run lead heading into the final day.