Middlesex on ropes against Hampshire

County champions Middlesex face a tense final day to prolong their 16-match unbeaten run with Hampshire remaining in control at the Ageas Bowl.

Michael Carberry (98) and Rilee Rossouw (99) both narrowly missed out on centuries as the home side were bowled out for 438, Middlesex’s Dawid Malan at one point in the unusual position of being on a hat-trick.

He was upstaged by Kyle Abbott, whose three-wicket blitz on the visitors’ top order left Middlesex effectively 29-4 overnight and needing to bat well on Monday.

The day began with Carberry falling two runs short of a much-merited century – the former England batsman, who missed the second half of last season following cancer treatment, got an edge behind off Tim Murtagh.

Abbott, elevated to nightwatchman on day two, had been in flowing mood on the drive throughout the morning and reached his maiden Championship fifty off 77 balls, before falling to Toby Roland-Jones for 56.

Rossouw and ex-Middlesex all-rounder Gareth Berg (43) added 86 for the eighth wicket, before Malan struck – he had his former team-mate caught and bowled and then induced an edge from Brad Wheal the next ball.

Fidel Edwards, batting with an injured hamstring, survived the hat-trick delivery, before Rossouw survived a scare when Malan inexplicably dropped him in the covers.

But just as when he looked destined for a ton, he took a second run that was never there and was run out by Sam Robson for 99.

With Hampshire leading by 82 after the first innings, a draw looked almost guaranteed – but Abbott had other ideas as he accounted for Robson (8), Nick Gubbins (11) and then Stevie Eskinazi late on, after he had made 45 in a stand of 59 with Adam Voges (29 not out).