A PREMATURE message congratulating Hampshire on promotion lit up the scoreboard at Grace Road yesterday.

When play began this morning, Essex, who are in control of their latest match against third-placed Glamorgan at Chelmsford, and Leicestershire were mathematically able to pip Hampshire.

But a second promotion in four years is inevitable for Shane Warne's side, who only needed three points to be sure of their place in the county championship's top flight at stumps, when Leicestershire were 70-2, still needing a further 299 to win.

Fourth-placed Yorkshire's comprehensive defeat against wooden spoonists Durham at Scarborough means that, even the unlikely prospect of a draw at Grace Road today will be enough for Hampshire to secure a top- three finish.

But an eighth Hampshire win of the season was the most likely result after Leicestershire were set 369 on a wearing pitch of variable bounce, after Hampshire were bowled out for 329 in their second innings.

Chris Tremlett seized the initiative with a brute of a ball that forced Damian Brandy to fend to Simon Katich at first slip after Leicestershire had lost John Maunders in the first over.

The left-hander inexplicably padded up to a Dimi Mascaren-has inswinger, leaving Leicester-shire 18-2 in the sixth over before an unbroken partnership of 52 between Darrens Maddy and Stevens frustrated the visitors.

Half-centuries for John Crawley, Michael Brown and Simon Katich had helped Hampshire to the biggest score of the match in their second innings.

After resuming on 56-1, Craw-ley and Brown's second-wicket stand of 114 came to an end when the former was out to a bat-pad catch after a two-hour stay at the crease for his 61.

Brown was more circumspect and gritted out 51 runs in three hours before he chopped on a David Masters delivery that knocked out his leg stump.

But Katich produced his best championship innings in his third game of the season, stroking six boundaries and lofting Claude Henderson for a six over long onbefore he was caught behind after slashing at a wide ball from Ottis Gibson.

Katich's 66 came from 114 balls. He was at the non striker's end when a beautiful delivery from Masters, who is making a rare appearance because Leiceste-rshire are without three frontline seamers through injury, nipped through Lawrie Prittipaul's defence.

The increasingly low bounce put paid to first innings centurion Nic Pothas but, after Mascarenhas had been caught at silly point, Shane Warne added 60 for the seventh wicket with his compatriot Katich.

Warne hit 42 from 62 balls before he was caught at slip when he came down the wicket with a full blooded drive at Henderson.

A half-chance for Maunders at short leg would have dismissed Warne for 12 but the Hampshire skipper went on to produce another captain's innings that could be crucial in the context of this match.

With Brad Hodge still to come for Leicestershire, anything is possible, but Warne's Hampshire were expected to enjoy anothermemorable fourth day's play today.