Simon Harmer negotiates the final five balls of Beau Webster's over.

The penultimate one had Essex hearts in mouths - it was a bouncer, angled in at the chest, and he fended it away with his gloves, to safety.

Harmer's push into the off side from the final delivery does not elicit a run from Akhter, who is happy to save the strike for himself.

Grace Ballinger
The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

A characteristic boundary through mid-wicket wins it for Somerset and also brings up Tom Abell's century. A fitting way to welcome victory.

An excellent century on a difficult pitch against a strong Hampshire bowling attack. He anchored the innings with style and poise, and it felt as long as Tom Abell was at the crease, Somerset had the win.

Somerset now sit comfortably top of the County Championship and certainly look the side to beat in the top division.

Zaman Akhter, on his Essex debut, is looking every inch the top 7 batter right now, not a number 10.

His footwork is looking sharp, his defence is present and correct. He's happy to drive the full deliveries.

Of course, as I type that, he goes for a swish off Keith Barker and misses.

Another maiden.

Beau Webster bowls a maiden. Another 39 of those and we'd have a draw.

Simon Harmer scrambles a single off Keith Barker. The rest of the over is uneventful.

A mottled pattern of white and grey clouds, with patches of blue, hang above Edgbaston. But metaphorically, they are a lot darker for the home side.

Another boundary for Zaman Akhter! And that takes this valuable ninth-wicket partnership to 50. Akhter has 34 of them.

Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard gathers his brains trust together. Something needs to happen for them soon.

Sam Robson continues to motor on and his latest boundary - the 19th of his innings - takes him past 150.

What a way to do it! Tom Abell whips one away for four to move onto 101 not out and Somerset have won an absolute thriller at the Utilita Bowl!

An absolutely superb match of County Championship cricket.

It is fitting that Abell scores the winning runs to move onto a century with the final delivery as he remained stoic in Somerset's run chase - losing partners throughout their second-innings.

A match that swung both ways several times over the past four days.

Abell ends up as the hero for the Division One league-leaders, who extend their lead at the top of the table, picking up 20 points. How vital could today be when we look back at the end of the season?

Spare a thought for Sonny Baker who grabbed 5-42 - and gave Hampshire a real fighting chance of what, at most of today, looked an unlikely victory.

His excellent spell - dismissing Somerset captain Lewis Gregory and then Alfie Ogborne - meant this match went right to the wire in a stunning conclusion.

Long live County Cricket!

Tom Abell turns a full delivery from Sonny Baker into the leg side for a single and keeps the strike, 97 not out now.

Somerset need just three now. Hampshire require two wickets.

This is edge of your seat stuff.

Grace Ballinger
The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

Akhter has now gone back-to-back vs Bamber, hitting three fours off Bamber's over after taking eight runs from Gilchrist in the previous over.

The number 10 has now built a partnership of 42 with Simon Harmer, and is seriously threatening the home side, who were not long ago huge favourites.

Something to think about for the Warwickshire seamers here.

A no-ball from Nathan Gilchrist means Essex now require less than 50 runs to win.

What a partnership this has been so far. Both Simon Harmer and Zaman Akhter have 30, sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 45.

A full-toss is turned away into mid-wicket and Tom Abell could take a single but opts not to.

Huge conversation after the fourth dot ball of the over between Hampshire's fielders, including Ben Brown, who comes racing from behind the wicket to put his two pennies worth in.

Grace Ballinger
The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

Gilchrist returns from the Pavillion end. Within his over he bowls two full looseners, both of which are punished - cracked down the ground for four by the number 10 Akhter.

That's nine from the over, the first of Gilchrist's second spell. His first over of the day also went for three boundaries. The Bears cannot afford too many loose deliveries as Essex begin to build a partnership.

Zaman Akhter is on fire right now - three more boundaries to take his side past 150!

Ethan Bamber, replacing Jordan Thompson, is the latest to get the treatment. Essex now need 52 to win.

Getting nervous yet, Warwickshire fans?

Jack Leach fends off six Kyle Abbott deliveries - the South African's ninth maiden over of the second-innings.

Four still required. Tom Abell (96 not out) is now back on strike.

Jack Leach takes a single with the final ball of the over to keep the strike - confidence!

Just four runs required now for Somerset. If it's going to happen for Hampshire, it has to happen now.

Tom Abell remains 96 not out at the non-striker's end.

This match has had everything.