John Crawley came agonisingly close to his second first class hundred for Hampshire yesterday.

Crawley looked destined to reach three figures in the county Championship for the first time since scoring 272 on his debut against Kent at Canterbury in April 2002.

But he was denied his first ton since his last hundred for England, against Sri Lanka at Lord's two years ago, by his former international colleague Darren Gough at Chelmsford.

It was clear from the start that he intended to stay for as long as he could after arriving at the crease when out-of-form Michael Brown shouldered arms to a Graham Napier off-cutter.

Since scoring his maiden first claSs hundred (102no) against Leicestershire in April, Brown's championship scores for Hampshire have been 1, 1, 13, 20, 20, 10 and now 0. He also scored 6 and 0 against Cardiff UCCE in the non-first class fixture at the Rose Bowl.

But less than 24 hours after his unbeaten 70 against Essex in the totesport National League, Crawley took the time to play himself in in his third championship appearance of the season.

It took him 50 balls to reach double figures but he did not look in any trouble on a good batting wicket after Shane Warne had won the toss.

The 43rd first class hundred of Crawley' career looked inevitable once he had reached fifty from 125 balls.

But there was a statistical inevitability at his failure to convert the 15th first-class fifty of his Hampshire career into three figures.

He had not offered a chance in nearly four and a half hours at the crease but Gough returned to the attack after tea, and immediately started to make his former England mate play and miss.

An edge had to come sooner or later. One dropped short of second slip but the next flew to Alastair Cook, who held on to a juggled catch at first slip.

Crawley faced 200 balls for his 97, his highest score for Hampshire since that Canterbury run feast, and his first championship fifty of the season.

But it was a wicket that was begging for a hundred from someone.

It had been a good toss for Warne to win and Michael Clarke was certainly grateful for the best championship batting track he has played on for Hampshire.

Clarke brought up his second championship half century, and his first since his debut innings for Hampshire in April, by stroking the eighth of his 11 fours to the extra cover boundary.

He and Crawley looked as though they could bat forever and a day at times but their 137-run partnership came to an end when Clarke hit a leading edge back to leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Clarke had arrived at the crease after Kaneria had continued where he had left off the previous evening. Kaneria found Derek Kenway's outside edge with his second ball but then Crawley and Clarke batted together untroubled for 37 overs.

Essex, though, had the better of the evening session.

Gough beat Will Kendall with some extra bounce five overs after tea and then dangerman Kaneria returned to remove Dimitri Mascarenhas and Warne with successive deliveries.

Mascarenhas had been dropped by Cook at first slip off Gough five balls after Crawley's exit. He had not troubled the scorers at the time but made the most of his let off, making 32, before handing Kaneria a return catch.

Warne was bowled first ball after attempting to drive his fellow leg-spinner back over his head.

Shaun Udal played the hat-trick ball sensibly before adding 20 unbroken runs for the eighth wicket with Nic Pothas, who was in imperious form.

Pothas hit Kaneria for a six over deep square leg and followed up with a swept boundary to bring up his fifty and his team's 300.

If he goes on to score his third hundred in four championship matches, Hampshire will be firm favourites on a wicket that offered plenty of turn for Kaneria (4 for 91).

l Alan Mullally was replaced by Billy Taylor yesterday after returning to Southampton to be with his wife Chelsey following a family bereavement.

His exclusive column will return next week.

l Nottinghamshire batsman David Hussey has received a reprimand under the ECB's discipline code.

Hussey was reported by umpire Mark Benson for a level one breach of the code - showing dissent at the umpire's decision by word or action - following an incident during the Championship match against Hampshire last week.

The penalty remains in force for a period of 12 months and any further level one breach during that period will result in an automatic imposition of three penalty points.