Tom Taylor led an exemplary Worcestershire bowling performance as Hampshire wilted in the sun to head towards an innings defeat in the County Championship. Fast bowler Taylor belied a flat wicket, a Kookaburra ball, and searing heat to claim 4-42 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 86-3 at close, still 372 runs behind. Worcestershire had begun their bowling charge after tea on day two, having declared, 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 112-5, 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 slide where Hampshire lost five wickets for 29 runs. James Fuller chipped straight to short extra cover first ball and 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 and Scott Currie was lbw to Parkinson.

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 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 times 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 and despite being dropped fourth ball, Brown survived the day with Varma.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay