Abbas bags six before Hampshire pulled back

Mohammad Abbas celebrated his first County Championship fivewicket haul of the season

- but Gloucestershire's rip-snorting evening session snatched the momentum away from Hampshire in the Division One contest.

Hampshire looked set for a first-innings lead in excess of 200 after Pakistani seamer Abbas ripped through the visitors with a textbook showcase of line and length bowling, finishing with figures of 6-45.

But Ajeet Singh Dale and Jared Warner added 55 for the last wicket to reduce the deficit to innings deficit to 163 in Hampshire's favour.

It was another Pakistani seamer who then took centre stage for Gloucestershire, as Mohammad Amir finished day two with three for 11, with Ryan Higgins also pilfering a scalp, to leave Hampshire 28-4, with a lead of 191 at stumps.

To start the day, Liam Dawson and South African Kyle Abbott had failed to reach the bonuspoint target of 350 - despite a spirited morning effort - with Graeme van Buuren pinning Abbott LBW and Dawson flailing to deep extra cover, as Hampshire were all out for 342.

Abbas came into his own with an incredible seven-over spell of 4-16. Hampshire were now in the box seat and relentlessly hunted down further wickets.

Abbas’ spell initiated murmurs in the Hampshire dressing room that it had produced more heat than other efforts in recent weeks due to compatriots Amir and Naseem Shah watching on.

Marcus Harris ended the procession to Abbas but Ryan Higgins countered with an entertaining 46 before taking on Felix Organ one too many times to top edge to deep mid-wicket.

Abbas then completed his five-wicket haul with a shortball into Goodman’s ribs, which was gloved through to keeper Brown.

Amir followed two balls later with a sharp edge to second slip – Abbas celebrating by running down to his friend and laying his hands on his shoulder in a consolidatory manner.

Then Dale and Warner put on 55 for the final wicket as Gloucestershire were all-out for 179, leaving Hampshire with a sizeable lead of 163.

But Amir’s brilliant late spell, which saw him pick up 3-11 - with Higgins also claiming a scalp - to leave Hampshire in a spot of bother at 28-4.