Old Trafford contest in the balance

Lancashire and Hampshire are poised for a fascinating final day of their LV County Championship clash at Old Trafford.

After claiming a first-innings lead of 69 by bowling Hampshire out for 288 early in the afternoon session on the third day, Lancashire’s top order then crumbled to 54 for four.

The Red Rose are looking for their third successive Division One victory against the league’s bottom side.

And from their point of view, at least Francois Du Plessis and Steven Croft shared a dogged fifth-wicket partnership of 44 to stabilise things somewhat.

But Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir was yet again the pick of the Hampshire bowling, claiming four more wickets as the hosts closed on 121 for seven.

The 29-year-old, who is married to a South African and is halfway through a four-year qualification period to play for the Proteas, had recorded 5-123 in the first innings.

After David Balcombe had Lou Vincent caught behind by Nic Pothas for two and Chris Tremlett bowled Iain Sutcliffe for four – the score was 16 for two – Tahir removed Stuart Law, Paul Horton and later Du Plessis for 31 and Glen Chapple.

Lancashire captain Law was caught at short leg by Michael Brown for 22 courtesy of a Tahir googly and Horton was bowled for 25 the ball before tea.

Imran Tahir celebrates the wicket of Paul Horton

Du Plessis, a colleague of Tahir’s at South African provincial franchise the Titans, was caught and bowled to leave Lancashire 98 for five.

Balcombe (2-20) bowled Croft, shouldering arms for 15, before Tahir completed figures of 4-48 from 19 overs by bowling Chapple for eight.

Lancashire lead by 190 with three wickets in hand and many are predicting 230 could be a winning score.

Earlier, Dominic Cork and Sajid Mahmood completed three-wicket hauls to bowl Hampshire out after they had resumed this morning on 174 for three.

Cork trapped Brown lbw for 76 and had Pothas caught at second slip within the space of four balls in the sixth over of the day.

Cork, who has revealed Lancashire are not yet in a position to offer him a contract for next season, reduced the visitors to 180 for five before taking a fine catch.

After left-arm spinner Gary Keedy (2-101) removed Chris Benham for 89, Cork dived forward at mid-off to snap up Tremlett off the same bowler.

Dimitri Mascarenhas rescued the mini collapse from 208 for seven with 49 but Chapple trapped Balcombe leg before.

Mahmood (3-69) then had Mascarenhas caught behind by Sutton and - watched by England selector James Whittaker - bowled Tahir to complete the innings.

Mascarenhas hit five fours in his 107-ball innings. The wicket had been fairly docile for the opening two days but variable bounce kicked in with 14 wickets falling in the day.