Hampshire are facing a tense end to the season after a second day of struggle against Kent at The Ageas Bowl – and a win for promotion rivals Essex.

The last round of LV County Championship games is likely to begin with Hampshire needing a convincing victory over Glamorgan in Cardiff to secure promotion as third-placed Essex have erased the 22-point gap that existed two days ago, by beating Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Needing 27 from their last two matches to guarantee promotion, Hampshire managed a solitary bowling point as Kent made 507, the biggest total at the Ageas Bowl this season.

Targeting 358 to avoid the follow-on, Hampshire closed on 127-3 after Liam Dawson ran out Jimmy Adams (26) attempting a single to mid-on that was never there, before clipping Adam Riley’s off-spin straight to a diving James Tredwell at mid-wicket.

With Michael Carberry out for the rest of the season with a hand injury, James Vince responded with a vital 64, (80 balls, ten fours) as he and debutant Tom Alsop ensured no further loss before the close.

Hampshire also began the day well, Matt Coles (4-84) impressing against his former county with 2-28 from a nine-over spell.

Bowling with pace and aggression, he ended the fourth-wicket partnership of 244 – the fourth-highest stand in the second division this season – when he bowled Sam Northeast for 128 (214 balls, 14 fours, one six).

Darren Stevens was caught by Will Smith at third slip, attempting to guide Coles to third man, six overs later

But Kent continued to enjoy a very flat track.

Imran Tahir (3-140), whose arrival has cost Danny Briggs his place, took his first Championship wickets for three years and Smith claimed a career-best 2-27 on the day he extended his contract until 2017.

But the 244-run partnership between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Northeast helped ensure that Hampshire conceded their biggest total for 14 months.

Bell-Drummond was eventually lbw for 153 (336 balls, 22 fours) playing no shot to a Tahir googly, but Sam Billings also showed why he is so highly rated with an excellent 92 (116 balls, nine fours). Billings put put on 81 for the seventh wicket with Callum Haggett (34), who was run out by debutant Alsop from mid-on, before holing out to long-on.