ESSEX claimed 10 points after playing out a rain-affected draw with Hampshire.

The County Championship title holders ended day four on 300/6 after Hampshire had declared on 351/7 at the Ageas Bowl.

Alastair Cook began his summer with a composed unbeaten half-century to allay worries over his form but missed out on three-figures, dismissed for 84.

The former England captain, who averages 77 in the County Championship since the beginning of the 2016 season, reached his half-century in 80 balls before being caught behind.

The conditions had marginally brightened for the final day, although both sets of players wore woolly hats.

Hampshire had made a successful start to the match before bad light and rain scuppered any hopes of a result.

Peter Siddle found Rilee Rossouw’s edge off the fourth ball of the morning, which flew to a wide second slip, two balls after snapping the South African’s bat.

Lewis McManus tickled Sam Cook behind to James Foster, before Abbott scored 43 runs in 35 deliveries.

Abbott, who had earlier been dropped on 36, was eventually caught and bowled by Sam Cook as Hampshire declared at 12.30pm.

The opening stand between Alastair Cook and Nick Browne was worth 54 before the latter was dismissed for 26.

That sparked a mini-collapse as Essex lost three wickets in 11 balls.

Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence went in successive overs with Ravi Bopara adding 87 for the fourth wicket with Cook, before the latter was dismissed.

Ryan ten Doeschate scored 24, while Bopara continued to keep the runs flowing with a 93-ball half-century.

James Foster took Essex past 250, and a second batting point, during a 76 run stand with Bopara, before he was bowled by Dawson for 46.

Bopara ended up with 84 not out as Essex reached 300 to scored an additional point before the two captains shock hands.