Tom Prest showed his considerable talent with a second Vitality County Championship hundred as Hampshire and Durham's Division One clash turned into a run-fest.
The 21-year-old struck a skilful 102 to accompany Ali Orr's opening century and Ben Brown's 75th first-class fifty as Hampshire posted 503 for victory.
Alex Lees led Durham's reply on a Utilita Bowl pitch that has shown heavy spin in places but has mostly been fun to bat on in the sun.
The opener scored 71 before departing in the penultimate over of the day after putting on 97 for the third wicket with David Bedingham. Durham finished the day on 146 for 3, 357 all out.
Prest cemented his reputation as Hampshire's most exciting local batsman since James Vince by displaying his full range.
He had enthusiastically reached his half-century on the first evening but was forced to share the crease with Ben Brown as the visitors bowled with precision in the morning. The pair eventually added 72 for the second wicket.
Prest's overnight partner Liam Dawson was leg before in the third over of the day, having survived a caught behind appeal from Ben Raine the previous delivery.
The former England Under-19 captain cemented his place in the Hampshire side with a century against Essex in the penultimate match of last season, before an 85 against Lancashire last month proved the ton was no fluke.
He never looked uncomfortable and never gave away a chance as he led his side to three wickets and a 161-ball century.
Two balls after reaching three figures, Prest edged to the first slip to claim Brydon Carse's first wicket of the season - he was nought for 285 in 2024.
Brown, who passed 50 off 95 balls, and Felix Organ kept Hampshire's progress going - with the clear intention of only having to bat once, especially with rain forecast for Monday.
They put on 60 before a flurry of wickets ended the innings. Brown lost control of the bat and smashed a one-handed drive to midwicket, Organ was run out by James Fuller's lazy running, Kyle Abbott was bowled by a Callum Parkinson ripper before Fuller lost his off stump after some exciting shot-making.
Parkinson finished with a costly four-for, while debutant Peter Siddle took three. Hampshire reached 500 at home for the first time since 2019.
Vince called in his spinners in the eighth and ninth overs, and was quickly rewarded with wickets for Dawson and Organ - the former having two loud lbw appeals turned down in his first over.
Organ was the first to strike when Scott Borthwick brought tea by misreading a full straight delivery to be bowled, ending a lively 45-run stand with Lees. And then Colin Ackermann was plumb in front to Dawson.
Lees batted himself out of danger of falling victim to spin and variable bounce with a series of aggressive boundary shots.
But the spell of danger was over and Lees slipped back into the gears to reach 50 for the second time this year in exactly 100 balls, with Bedingham keeping him company.
He was given out leg-before to Dawson off the seventh and final ball of the day, leaving Hampshire as the only side with a realistic chance of winning.