Tom Taylor excels as Hampshire wilt in face of Worcestershire run-mountain

Tom Taylor led an exemplary Worcestershire bowling performance as Hampshire wilted in the sun to head towards an innings defeat in the Rothesay County Championship.

Fast bowler Taylor belied a flat wicket, a Kookaburra ball and searing heat to claim four for 42 in 19 tireless overs.

Adam Finch and Worcestershire debutant Callum Parkinson also snared two wickets each to bowl Hampshire out for 221, a colossal 458-run deficit in reply to 679.

Following on, Finch and Parkinson then took centre stage to crash through the Hampshire top three again as Hampshire stuttered to 86 for three at close, still 372 runs behind.

Worcestershire had begun their bowling charge after tea on day two, having declared, and with the knowledge that three wickets every session for the rest of the match would take them to victory.

They managed it that evening, with a constant barrage at the stumps resulting in three wickets.

That tactic of forcing the batters to play almost incessantly due to line and length - plus the odd bouncer to keep them honest - continued in the morning.

Ben Brown lasted less than half an hour as a Taylor delivery in the channel drew a prod and a catch for Henry Nicholls at second slip.

Two balls later and Taylor discovered the outside of Liam Dawson's bat, but only carried to first slip on the half-volley.

Dawson took an opposite approach to his team-mates - who had tried, and failed, to bat for the long haul a la Jake Libby earlier in the match.

He punched through the covers with gusto to score 27 in 29, but missed a straight one from Finch before the ball cannoned into his pads, and walked before the umpire's finger had been raised.

At 112 for five, Hampshire were in serious trouble, but Talik Varma had grittily defended and scored at a strike-rate which almost constantly began with a two.

The Indian, who scored a century on debut at Essex last week, look assured at the crease and took to the challenge of occupation manfully.

He had now been joined by Tom Prest, who after an uncertain start found his footing against an ageing ball, but still militantly accurate bowling attack. The pair put on 80.

Varma had foreshadowed his demise throughout his innings, with overeager attempts at quick singles. Having reached a 160-ball half-century, he punted to Libby at mid off, took on the arm and lost.

It started a 14-over cortege where Hampshire lost five wickets for 29 runs, and Worcestershire got ahead of the three-wicket-a-session rule.

James Fuller chipped straight to short extra cover first ball. Prest took on a pull shot, despite a clear trap, but only tickled behind down the legside. Kyle Abbott was castled by a booming Taylor in ducker. Scott Currie was lbw to Parkinson.

The wickets almost all came due to smart field placements to prevent any runs and bowlers executing the plans perfectly.

Simply, Worcestershire had comfortably out-batted and then out-bowled Hampshire, which was reflected in the 458 first innings deficit, and the fact the visitors had bowled more maidens in half the overs.

On the flattest of pitches, Hampshire had failed to score a single batting point.

The hosts now had to bat out four sessions to avoid a calamitous defeat, with Worcestershire's bowlers still boasting a high charge.

Ali Orr and Fletcha Middleton paired intent with solidity and looked untroubled for 16 overs, but Finch's introduction ended both of their time at the crease.

Finch's extra pace initially found Middleton dropped at leg slip but two overs later Orr pushed back to take a single and stepped on his own stumps, before a leading edge looped off Middleton's bat to cover.

Nick Gubbins was bowled by a Parkinson beauty - who took a lap in celebration - and despite being dropped fourth ball, Brown survived the day with Varma.