Alastair Cook and Graham Napier both scored half-centuries to leave Essex's LV= County Championship game with Hampshire evenly poised at stumps on the second day.
England captain Cook made a patient 59 and Napier 74 as the home side were able to establish a 57-run first-innings lead as they seek their first win of the season.
And when David Masters nipped out the two Hampshire openers in their second knock to leave them 21-2, things were looking very rosy for the home side.
But Liam Dawson and George Bailey were able to regroup and took the score to 77-2 at the close, giving the visitors a 20-run lead with eight wickets remaining.
Cook and Ben Foakes resumed play with the score on 72-5, but Foakes was able to add just one to his overnight 19 before nicking James Tomlinson to his former Essex team-mate Adam Wheater.
James Foster then came in and he and Cook took the score past 100 before Foster was caught and bowled by Danny Briggs for 25.
Cook's 248-minute innings came to an end when he fell to Tomlinson, but Napier hit nine fours and a six and put on 87 with Tim Phillips (40 not out) to put Essex well in the lead.
Masters, fresh from four wickets in the first innings, then set about Hampshire's openers again, and first had Michael Carberry brilliantly caught by Foakes at short leg for two, before trapping Jimmy Adams lbw for nine.
But Dawson (31) and Bailey (26) ensured that Hampshire will start day three with eight wickets in hand.
