ESSEX edged an intriguing second day at the Colchester Festival in their Championship game against Hampshire.
With no play possible on the first day due to rain, the morning had belonged to the Eagles, as they restricted their visitors to 97-7 at lunch.
But Adam Wheater came back to haunt his former county as he led the fight back with an outstanding 107.
Essex eventually bowled the visitors out for 246 before finishing the day on 70 for the loss of just one wicket.
Having won the toss and deciding to bat, captain Jimmy Adams (8) was soon gone as he edged Jesse Ryder to Tom Westley at first slip.
And opening partner Michael Carberry (0) was soon following him to the pavilion when he was caught by James Foster off Graham Napier in the ninth over.
That brought James Vince (13) to the crease, looking to build on the 240 he scored against the Eagles last month at the Ageas Bowl.
But after some nice drives off Napier, he also fell to Ryder, becoming Foster's second catch of the day.
Things got even better for Essex within the first hour of play as Liam Dawson (2) drove loosely to Ryan ten Doeschate for Napier's second wicket.
With the injury to Reece Topley, Essex recalled Saj Mahmood, who got straight into the wickets column with his third delivery.
Will Smith (7) edged him behind to Westley and Hampshire limped to 32-5.
Wheater and Sean Ervine (20) settled the innings down, reaching their fifty partnership. But ten minutes before lunch Ervine chipped Tim Phillips to deep midwicket, with Greg Smith coming round to his right to take a comfortable catch.
Hampshire then headed to lunch on 97-7, as Matt Coles (0) got a leading edge to Westley, Essex's eighth bowler, with Monty Panesar taking the catch at mid-on.
But after lunch, the match took a completely turn. Wheater moved past his 50 in just 70 balls, with Australian Nathan Rimmington (65*) ably partnering the former Essex man.
Wheater continued to play his shots and elegantly brought up his century off 134 balls with a straight drive off Ryder.
But Wheater finally fell when he was trapped LBW by Mahmood, trudging off after an impressive knock of 107.
Mahmood then picked up the wicket of Danny Briggs for three, before Rimmington brought up his 50 in 113 balls.
James Tomlinson (5) was the last man out as Panesar had him caught at short leg by Nick Browne, as Hampshire were bowled out for 246.
Foster used ten different bowlers during the innings, with Mahmood picking up 3-54.
Browne (4), coming off the back of two unbeaten centuries against Derbyshire last week, fell early when he was caught by Vince at third slip off the bowling of Coles.
But that would be the only batting blemish for the day for the hosts, as Westley (35*) and Ravi Bopara (24*) comfortably saw Essex to stumps on 70-1.
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