Hampshire have boosted their LV County Championship survival hopes with an emphatic win against Warwickshire.

Fidel Edwards finished with match figures of 9-87 after taking two of the last four Warwickshire wickets as Hampshire won by 216 runs.

The outgoing Jackson Bird got the final day off to the perfect start by dismissing Rikki Clarke (55) in the first over, caught by Joe Gatting at mid-wicket, after Warwickshire resumed on 161-6, still 283 behind.

It turned out to be the final wicket of Bird’s stint at Hampshire as Edwards took the next two, before Will Smith ended the 41-run  last-wicket stand.

Keith Barker was lbw without scoring and Jeetan Patel caught by Will Smith at short leg before Bad light meant Edwards was withdrawn from the attack.

Smith took the final Hampshire wicket when Chris Woakes (42) was caught by Mason Crane at mid-on.

Hampshire remain bottom of the first division but their 21-point has closed the gap on Worcestershire.

Coach Dale Benkenstein said: “It was about time. I spoke earlier about playing better cricket and that was really good cricket. I thought our first innings was a little short on runs but we batted over 100 overs which we haven’t done for a while.

“That really paid dividends when they had a really short innings and had to come out and bowl again.

“I’d say we got our rewards for our hard work in the first innings batting in the second innings when I think their bowlers were tired.

“We’ve almost been in their shoes most of the season so this was a huge one for us for the rest of the games and gives us a realistic chance of staying up.”