Might we say a change of tactics from Joe Denly here?

Very much an innings of attrition from him up to now.

Denly takes a single into cover off Josh Davey so perhaps not.

Davey is back of a length to Beyers Swanepoel, who pushes defensively into the off side.

The fifth ball is shorter and shovelled away to long on for one.

A bit airborne but the ball drops safely.

Denly keeps the strike with one turned to backward square.

Joe Denly pushes a single out to cover off Jack Leach.

A silly point and a slip in for Beyers Swanepoel.

One ball is pushed off the bat dangerously close to Somerset captain Lewis Gregory at short extra cover.

Swanepoel gets away with a single off the fifth ball and Joe Denly drives down the ground for one to keep the strike.

Image source, Rex Features

No hundred for Matt Critchley - he's left stranded on 99 as Simon Harmer paddles Che Simmons to the boundary to take Essex over the line!

Critchley's contribution has been immense, though - his partnership of 176 with Jordan Cox turned this match decisively in Essex's favour.

Warwickshire will be wondering how they threw this away after leading by 235 on first innings and declining to enforce the follow-on.

Image source, Rex Features

Beyers Swanepoel defends from the crease at first and then aims a square cut off his third ball, scything it away off a thick edge down to third man for four.

A no ball follows and then Swanepoel sees out the over with a play and miss outside the off stump.

Into single figures now for Essex and the only question really is whether Matt Critchley will get the chance to complete his century.

He's on 99, having thumped Michael Rae for a six and four in successive balls - and Essex need five for victory.

Surely Simon Harmer will do the decent thing and leave it to his partner?

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Somerset aren't quite through the Kent batting yet because Beyers Swanepoel is a more than capable batsman.

I did say that if Somerset can get one more wicket before lunch, they will feel that they've had a decent morning and that wicket has now materialised.

Image source, Getty Images

Only 22 runs to play with and Warwickshire know they need something dramatic if they're to pull this off.

Michael Rae appeals as Simon Harmer goes for another hook and the ball is gathered by Michael Burgess behind the stumps.

The umpire isn't having it, though, pointing to his shoulder to indicate where he feels the ball struck Harmer.

Essex edging towards victory here.

Joey Evison is forward to Josh Davey, blocking into the off side.

Joe Denly is forward to Jack Leach driving down the ground but Leach is able to cut it off on his follow through.

Denly is back and across to Leach trying to force the ball through the off side but there's no run.

Maiden over. How many more overs and runs do Kent need to set up a chase, or more likely a draw?

Four more runs to Joey Evison, advancing to left arm spinner Jack Leach and lofting a drive to long off.

That takes the lead to three figures and we can't completely rule out a tense run chase this evening.

Cheers from the Chelmsford crowd as Simon Harmer gets off the mark by pulling Michael Rae to the boundary and Essex are now within 30 of victory.

Then again, another wicket could still produce a nervy finish.

Image source, Rex Features

This is a good spell from Josh Davey, getting Joey Evison to play and miss repeatedly outside off stump.

A bit more width outside off stump and Evison crashes the ball through cover for four.

Still no breakthrough for Lancashire this morning at Stanley Park as David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson continue to chip away at this mammoth target of 475.

Robinson has just thumped Will Williams for successive fours and he's on 68, while Bedingham has 71 to his name.

Almost halfway there...

Glenn Speller
BBC Essex sport

I mentioned this morning about the ebb and flow of this game but for the first hour today it looked like Essex were going to cruise to victory.

But suddenly two wickets has this one back in the balance.

Jordan Cox will be livid to have picked out the only man on the leg side while Pepper was looking to angle away a single when playing onto his stumps.

The game is back on…

Lyndon James is on from the Stuart Broad End and concedes one to Fletcha Middleton squirted through third man.

The second ball is short and swatted away by James Fuller for four.

Another short ball is swatted into the ground in front of deep square for one more.

The fifth ball is pushed into point for one.

And there it is! Leg side and glanced round the corner by Fuller for four!

Hampshire pick up their first win of the season and will be out of the relegation zone at least for this round, regardless of results at Taunton and Blackpool.

Middleton (59 not out) and Fuller 77 not out) see the south coast county home with no further batters required today.

A brilliant unbroken stand of 127 full of attrition and then a dash of flair at the end.

Image source, Rex Features

Dillon Pennington bowls a short ball down the leg side and James Fuller ducks. Just two from that over but Hampshire only need 10.

Fletcha Middleton is forward to Calvin Harrison trying to push through the off side but there's no run.

There's a tiny hint of turn out of the rough from the leg spinner, bowling a much better line in this over.

A sweep to deep square leg brings one as the ball drops just short of the fielder.

Nine needed.

Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport

It's probably too little too late for Warwickshire because Jordan Cox has done most of the work but he'll be really annoyed that he hasn't seen the job through himself.

It continues to be a good debut for Che Simmons.

A terrific innings from Jordan Cox.

An acceleration from Hampshire here off a loose over.

Calvin Harrison starts with five wides.

Fletcha Middleton is forward to the leg spinner, attempting a slog sweep and the ball flies off an outside edge down to third man for three.

That's the 100 partnership with James Fuller off 147 balls.

A slog sweep just over deep square leg brings six and that's the 150 in the 48th over.

Short from Harrison. Four runs hammered through cover!

21 off that over and 12 needed.