James Vince reckoned his innings changing century against Glamorgan at Cardiff today was his best knock of the season.

"Given the circumstances and what's at stake in this game it was my best knock of the season," he said.

"The game turned dramatically in our favour in the afternoon session when Slug (Sean Ervine) and myself put on those 225 and we're certainly happy where we are now.

"It was tricky out there early on, but with 357 on the board we can apply the pressure now and hopefully make some real inroads into Glamorgan in the first hour or so, when conditions will probably be damp and similar to how they were in the morning today."

Vince, who expects to be named today in the England EPP squad for a pre-Christmas A-tour to Sri Lanka, praised Ervine for his part in the record breaking sixth-wicket partnership against Glamorgan, which bettered the 198-stand set way back in 1922.

"Sean's in terrific form just at the moment and when you get two guys batting together (like we were) it makes it a lot easier.

"We played a lot of good shots together and kept the runs flowing, piling on lots more pressure," he continued.

The events at Chelmsford, where Essex take a 114-run lead over Worcestershire into the second day, make this a probable 'must win' game for Hampshire.

With Jesse Ryder taking 5-22, Essex rolled Worcestershire out for 84 and finished the day 198-3.

If Essex reach 300, Hampshire will have to beat Glamorgan in Cardiff to clinch promotion.