Jimmy Adams admitted he feared the worst when Hampshire were reduced to 53-5 after winning the toss on the opening day in Cardiff.

Adams was worried that Hampshire would miss out on promotion for a third successive season when the top order collapsed while third-placed Essex were bowling division two leaders Worcestershire out for 84.

But Essex’s convincing sixth win in seven games ultimately gave Hampshire the chance to go up as champions thanks to a partnership of 225 between James Vince and Sean Ervine.

“I’m overjoyed but also very relived because it could have been completely different!” smiled Adams. “At 53-5 we could have been sat in third. I lost the toss last week and Kent got 500 and then won the toss and we were 50-5. I’m not sure which was worse!

“There were some serious nagging doubts at that point. You try and concentrate on what you can do but I’d be lying if we didn’t suddenly think ‘Crikey!’ "I told Vincey I thought 200-plus would be a good score and we got 357! We rode our luck at times but I think we deserved that over the course of the year.

“In the past we might have faltered but this year we’ve found ways of digging ourselves out of holes. We’ve had crucial draws, last days of battling hard to save the game like at Worcester and against Kent last week.”