SAM Cook took a maiden first-class five-wicket haul as champions Essex pulled off an extraordinary 108-run victory - despite earlier being forced to follow-on against Hampshire.

Fast bowler Cook blasted through Hampshire’s top order to end with figures of five for 18 and leave the relegation-threatened home side with their lowest total since 1984 as they were bowled out for 76.

It was the first time since 1999, when they beat Nottinghamshire, that Essex managed to win a Specsavers County Championship match after being asked to follow-on.

Incidentally, the previous occasion, the second of three in their history, was against Hampshire, at Bournemouth’s Dean Park, in their last Championship-winning campaign 25 years ago.

Hampshire, who had bowled Essex out for 76 in the first innings, had been set 185 runs to win after Neil Wagner and James Foster’s 82-run partnership for the eighth wicket put the wheels in motion for the remarkable win.

Hampshire’s pursuit started poorly as Joe Weatherley was pinned lbw as he walked across his stumps by Cook in his first over.

It got worse five overs later as Tom Alsop edged Jamie Porter behind.

Cook then deceived Jimmy Adams by coming around the wicket and wide of the crease to clatter a delivery into the left-hander’s off stump.

The 20-year-old, making just his third Championship appearance as he prepares for the final year of his history degree, then produced a wicked in-swinger to bowl George Bailey.

Hampshire had lost three wickets without scoring a run as they were stuck on 12.

Sean Ervine was lbw to Porter, his 70th scalp of the season, leaving the hosts 25 for five.

Vince, one of three batsmen to depart for ten, was next to fall as he was lbw to the rampant Cook.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer entered the attack in the 21st over and struck with his first delivery as he bowled Liam Dawson with a vicious spinner – Hampshire now 37 for seven.

Wagner then grabbed two wickets as Gareth Berg edged to first slip and Kyle Abbott guided to cover point.

Cook completed the innings as Fidel Edwards edged behind, with Ian Holland unbeaten on an innings-high 16.

Starting the day just 69 runs ahead, Essex saw skipper Ryan ten Doeschate depart just six balls into the day as Edwards continued where he had left off on the previous evening by striking him on the pads.

Three balls into the next over, Abbott produced an in-swinging yorker to cartwheel night watchman Porter’s middle stump.

Ian Holland grabbed the eighth Essex wicket by finding the edge of Simon Harmer’s dangling bat but Foster and Wagner then put on their useful stand to swing the game in Essex’s favour for the first time.

New Zealander Wagner, in particular, swung his bat with gusto to find himself reaching an entertaining 44 – before one shot too many saw him caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

Foster was the last man to fall after a match-aware 47 before he was leg before to Abbott – his eighth wicket of the match.

But Hampshire’s incredible collapse, which leaves them within touching distance above the relegation zone, made sure Essex remained unbeaten with the most unlikely of their nine wins this season.