Hampshire face a tense final day of their Specsavers County Championship season after they closed the third day at Edgbaston on 20 for one, needing 259 to beat Warwickshire.

The equation for James Vince's side is simple. Win or draw against the already-relegated Bears and they will secure their First Division status but defeat will mean they accompany their hosts down to Division Two.

When rain arrived to wipe out the final session of the third day, Hampshire had already lost Jimmy Adams on the way towards a tricky target which would have been a lot less difficult had they not conceded a 10th-wicket stand of 59 by Ian Bell (77 not out, 101 balls, nine fours, two sixes) and Ryan Sidebottom in Warwickshire's second innings.

It has been an extraordinary game, with four sessions entirely washed out while the other five have brought 31 wickets.

The final three sessions tomorrow will dictate the level at which Hampshire play their championship cricket in 2018.

Leading by 72 after the first innings', Warwickshire resumed on the third morning on 0 for 0 and soon hit trouble.

Liam Banks and Dominic Sibley edged Fidel Edwards and Ian Holland respectively before Gareth Berg took three wickets in 13 balls as Jonathan Trott nicked an outswinger, Matt Lamb fell lbw and Tim Ambrose edged to second slip.

Bell and Alex Thomson (24, 28 balls) added 30 but Thomson and Jeetan Patel fell to successive balls from Kyle Abbott either side of lunch. After Chris Wright was run out by George Bailey's direct hit and Edwards knocked out Olly Hannon-Dalby's middle stump, it was 127 for nine.

Another wicket then and Hampshire would have been chasing 200.

Instead, last man Sidebottom (13, 32 balls, three fours) batted diligently while Bell played some attractive strokes and the pair added 59 in 13 overs before Holland trapped Sidebottom lbw, leaving Bell unbeaten 23 short of his first century of the season.

Facing an awkward eight-over session before tea, Hampshire lost Adams who edged Hannon-Dalby to second slip.

The match, and Hampshire's destiny, faced a pivotal evening session but the clouds closed in on the West Midlands and, down south, the cricket-lovers of Hedge End, Ampfield and Wellow battened down the hatches for a nervy night.

As, of course, did those in Stratfield Turgis.