WORCESTERSHIRE are closing in on a crucial LV= County Championship Division One victory over relegation rivals Hampshire at New Road.

The visitors, who were forced to follow on, reached 164-6 in their second innings by the close on the third day with 131 more runs still needed to make Worcestershire bat again.

A draw between Somerset and Sussex at Taunton has left both sides in danger along with Nottinghamshire, who were also involved in a draw with Middlesex.

So a victory would provide a major boost for Worcestershire, who were lifted by Saeed Ajmal's first five-wicket haul since returning to New Road for a third spell.

The Pakistan spin star tore through Hampshire to finish with 5-28 from 17 overs as bottom-of-the-table Hampshire were bowled out for 183 in their first innings, leaving them 295 in arrears.

Joe Leach (4-75) supported to raise his season's tally to 44 before Jack Shantry took up the mantle with a trio of wickets when their opponents batted again, including his 50th first-class victim of the campaign.

Hampshire, replying to 478 all out, resumed in their first innings on 86-3 and James Vince reached only his second half-century of the campaign.

But Leach broke through when he moved to the Diglis End and bowled Vince (56) on 118-4 in the 47th over.

Ajmal was introduced at the other end and in the next over held on to a return catch from wicketkeeper Adam Wheater (1).

He struck again in his next over with Joe Gatting (4) caught at deep square leg after attempting a sweep.

Gareth Berg (0) shouldered arms and was bowled by Leach as Hampshire lost four wickets for 13 runs in 25 balls.

Ajmal picked up two more in successive overs with Danny Briggs (7) caught behind after pushing forward and Brad Wheal (0) falling to a fine return catch at the second attempt.

Will Smith (51 not out) completed his half-century off 113 balls with eight fours and a six but Leach wrapped up the innings by trapping Jackson Bird (0) lbw.

Shantry took the new ball when Hampshire followed on and quickly trapped Jimmy Adams (6) lbw.

Sean Terry and Michael Carberry batted competently with a stand of 68 in 14 overs to take Hampshire to 74-1 before three wickets fell in as many overs.

Shantry had Terry (37) caught bat and pad by wicketkeeper Ben Cox after the ball popped up on the leg side, while in the next over Vince (0) offered no shot to Ajmal and was bowled.

Then Carberry (32) went to cut Shantry and chopped onto his stumps.

Charlie Morris came back into the attack at the start of the final session and soon accounted for Wheater (14), who fenced at a delivery just outside the off-stump and was caught by Cox on 97-5.

Spinner Brett D'Oliveira picked up his first wicket of the game when he pouched a return catch from Smith (29) after he added 41 with Joe Gatting, who ended the day on 28no with Berg on 12no.