Hampshire 254 & 76 lost to Essex 76 & 362 by 108 runs

Sam Cook took a maiden first class five wicket haul as champions Essex pulled off an extraordinary 108-run victory despite earlier being forced to follow-on against Hampshire.

Fast bowler Cook blasted through Hampshire’s top order to end with figures of five for 18, and leave the relegation-threatened home side with their lowest total since 1984 – as they were bowled out for 76.

It was the first time since 1999, when they beat Nottinghamshire, that Essex managed to win a Specsavers County Championship match after being asked to follow-on.

Cook admitted: “It is an unbelievable feeling and a day I won’t forget about after we won the game from a position we looked out of it.

“It just shows how amazing the fight has been all season and I am chuffed to take my first five-for.

“Winning after following-on doesn’t happen every day, we were under the pump a bit following-on after getting rolled out in difficult circumstances.

“We have had an amazing season as a team but it keeps getting better and better.

“At first you come into the environment and get lost in it but I think I have done well to treat it like playing any other game.

“It is an amazing environment to thrive in with everyone so happy after winning the championship.

“Chris Silverwood talked about the 1992 following-on win against Hampshire in the dressing room a few days ago when we were a few wickets down and looking down in the dumps.

“He said ‘this happened 25 years ago, why can’t it happen again?’ and it just sums up our season as a whole that history has repeated itself.”

Hampshire, who had bowled Essex out for 76 in the first innings, had been set 185 runs to win – after Neil Wagner and James Foster’s 82-run partnership for the eighth wicket put the wheels in motion for the remarkable win.

Hampshire’s pursuit started poorly as Joe Weatherley was pinned lbw as he walked across his stumps by Cook in his first over.

It got worse five overs later as Tom Alsop edged Jamie Porter behind.

Cook then deceived Jimmy Adams by coming around the wicket and wide of the crease to clatter a delivery into the left-hander’s off stump.

The 20 year old, making just his third Championship appearance as he prepares for the final year of his History degree, then produced a wicked in-swinger to bowl George Bailey.

Hampshire had lost three wickets without scoring a run as they were stuck on 12.

Sean Ervine was lbw to Porter, his 70th scalp of the season, leaving the hosts 25 for five.

Vince, one of three batsmen to depart for 10, was next to fall as he was lbw to the rampant Cook.

Off spinner Simon Harmer entered the attack in the 21st over and struck with his first delivery as he bowled Liam Dawson with a vicious spinner – Hampshire now 37 for seven.

Wagner then grabbed two wickets as Gareth Berg edged to first slip and Kyle Abbott guided to cover point.

Cook completed the innings as Fidel Edwards edged behind, with Ian Holland unbeaten on an innings high 16.

Starting the day just 69 runs ahead, Essex saw skipper Ryan ten Doeschate departed just six balls into the day as Edwards continued where he had left off on the previous evening by striking him on the pads.

Three balls into the next over Abbott produced an in-swinging yorker to cartwheel night watchman Porter’s middle stump.

Ian Holland grabbed the eighth Essex wicket by finding the edge of Simon Harmer’s dangling bat but Foster and Wagner then put on their useful stand to swing the game in Essex’s favour for the first time.

New Zealander Wagner in particular swung his bat with gusto to find himself reaching an entertaining 44 – before one shot too many saw him caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

Foster was the last man to fall after a match-aware 47 before he was leg before to Abbott – his eighth wicket of the match.

But Hampshire’s incredible collapse, which leaves them within touching distance above the relegation zone, made sure Essex remained unbeaten with the most unlikely of their nine wins this season.