TWO of Durham's lesser lights this season shone on the penultimate day to give them a chance of bowing out with a victory at the Ageas Bowl.

Michael Richardson became the first Durham batsman to be left stranded on 99 then Ryan Pringle took five wickets as Hampshire stretched their lead to 226 by reaching 176 for seven in their second innings.

The hosts need to win to avoid relegation and will hope their spinners improve to exploit the Ageas Bowl pitch prepared to suit them.

Mason Crane, the 19-year-old leg-spinner, took one for 110 in the first innings as Durham recovered from 186 for seven to reach 361.

Hampshire need him to benefit from a long bowl, just as Pringle did after conceding five an over in the first innings.

Richardson was let down by Chris Rushworth. With one ball of an over left to survive, the No 11 tried to sweep Liam Dawson and was lbw, leaving Richardson looking utterly forlorn.

On 90 when Rushworth came in, Richardson took a couple of singles before hitting Dawson for his only six to go with seven fours in his watchful 206-ball innings.

He then ran one off the fifth ball of the over, only for Rushworth's rush of blood to deny him his first championship century since May, 2014.

Richardson, who has a habit of ending the season well, suffered a similar fate in the penultimate match last year, when he was stranded on 96 at Trent Bridge, Graham Onions being the man out for a duck that time.

The wicketkeeper came into the match with a top score of 68 this season, while Pringle had only nine championship wickets.

The off-spinner now has eight in this match on the ground where he took his career-best five for 63 last season.

Leading by 50, Hampshire set out to build their lead quickly as Jimmy Adams and Will Smith took the score to 41 after eight overs before the spinners came on.

Scott Borthwick struck with his fourth ball when Adams top-edged a sweep to short fine leg, then Tom Alsop edged Pringle to slip.

A ball which turned sharply clipped James Vince's off bail and Smith was caught at short leg. Pringle had conceded 33 in six overs at that point, but had picked up three wickets.

Hampshire continued to attack and Sean Ervine fell to a good diving catch by Mark Stoneman at short extra cover. When Ryan McLaren was lbw three balls later Pringle had five for 38 and Hampshire had to dig in at 108 for six.

Dawson added 57 with Lewis McManus before he fell for 39 when he skied an attempted pull off Borthwick shortly before the close.

After an early lunch following morning rain, play began at 12.40 but it took just over two hours for the hosts to collect the three remaining wickets.

Richardson and Brydon Carse survived the new ball and took their stand to 79 before Carse fell for 45 when he edged Dawson's first ball of the day to slip.

If Hampshire then expected their spinners to mop up the tail they were swiftly disillusioned as Onions continued his recent good batting form.

He enjoyed some luck as a couple of miscued shots fell into space, but he contributed 38 to a stand of 86 before Hampshire belatedly recalled their quickest bowler Brad Wheal.

Just as when he removed Ben Stokes, he struck immediately as Onions couldn't evade a short ball and fended a catch to short leg.

Wheal finished with four for 39 and Rushworth's surrender left Dawson with four for 100. He will have a big part to play today.