If it was not for Derek Kenway's first championship hundred in nearly two years, Hampshire's promotion hopes would be all but gone.
When the final day of Hampshire's match against Gloucestershire began at the Rose Bowl this morning, the visitors were 382-9, a lead of 237, after dominating all but the final session on a disastrous third day for the home side.
Gloucestershire resumed on 50-2 yesterday, still 145 runs adrift of Hampshire's first innings of 330, of which the backbone was Kenway's 115.
That was Kenway's first ton in the four-day game since his career best 166 against Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl in July 2001.
And it could yet be the basis of Hampshire's first championship win of the season.
But if the forecasted rain stays away and Hampshire pull off a much needed win, it will be despite the events of yesterday, when Gloucestreshire capitalised against an attack without Mullally and a fully fit Wasim Akram.
That was until the final session, when Hampshire took five wickets with the new ball for the loss of 114 runs.
But the day belonged to Gloucestershire and their two centurions, Philip Weston and Jonty Rhodes.
Rhodes came to the crease midway through the morning session when Chris Taylor was caught by Robin Smith at short leg after Shaun Udal found some extra bounce.
A partnership of 96 in 34 overs between Weston and Rhodes followed before the former edged Ed Giddins behind, having reached his first championship hundred for Gloucestershire with a single off Udal.
Former Worcestershire opener Weston faced 218 balls for his ton but there were no more wickets for Hampshire until the third over after tea, when Dimi Mascarenhas trapped Matt Windows leg before with the new ball.
That was the first of the five wickets to fall in the final session.
Alex Gidman's was the next, he nicked Mascernhas to Nic Pothas, and then Twenty20 Cup batting sensation Ian Harvey was bowled after going back to a ball of fullish length from Udal.
Martyn Ball scored six of his seven runs by lifting Udal over the long off boundary before he was stumped by Pothas, who scooped the ball on to the stumps after misjudging a Simon Katich chinaman.
Then Wasim Akram ran out Stephen Pope from backward square leg to end what, on the whole, was a very disappointing day for Hampshire.
Rhodes's batting was a big factor. He brought up his hundred by hooking Ed Giddins for six and followed up by smashing the former Sussex bowler for another maximum over long leg before ending the day on 134 not out.
John Crawley dropped a half chance at extra cover when Rhodes was in the nineties, but otherwise the South African offered nothing durign more than five hours at the crease.
He crashed a ball against Robin Smith's helmet when the oldest player in Hampshire's side was fielding at short leg before reaching his second Gloucestershire hundred with typical flair.
Rhodes faced 251 balls, scored 12 boundaries and three sixes but it was just a pity that Hampshire did not have a fit Mullally and a fully fit Wasim to test him.
Wasim was struck on the toe by one of the three balls he faced from Harvey on Saturday and was forced to hobble off to change his boots after bowling two overs yesterday.
He returned to finish the rest of Mullally's seventh and final over of the day but was never able to bowl off more than eight paces.
Hampshire's attack might have been depleted but Gloucestershire proved that the wicket is still good for batting which will be of some consolation to John Crawley and his team when they begin their second innings today.
On Saturday Kenway was dropped at the wicket by Pope when on 23. Hampshire will hope that proves to be crucial . .
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