Northants' bowlers took charge as they dismissed Leicestershire for 173 in their first innings, forcing the visitors to follow on at Wantage Road.

The home side ended their first innings on 374 all out, thanks to David Sales (151) and Lance Klusener (65).

And they soon took charge as David Lucas claimed four wickets, while Johan van der Wath and Andrew Hall chipped in with three wickets each.

Lucas struck again as Leicestershire ended on 8-1 at stumps.

Leicestershire's awful batting day began badly when Matt Boyce and Tom New were dismissed cheaply before captain HD Ackerman joined them in the pavilion after edging Hall to wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien.

Further wickets tumbled as Leicestershire fell to 65-5 and the visitors had James Allenby's belligerent 47 to take them to 173, adding 50 vital runs with number 11 Nadeem Malik.

Allenby eventually fell, edging Van der Wath to Sales at second slip before opener Boyce was dismissed as Leicestershire began their second-innings rearguard.