Northants close in on promotion

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Leicestershire 218 and 30-2, Northants 600-8 declared (Northants 8pts, Leics 3pts)
23-26 September

Match scorecard

Andrew Hall followed up his 159 with figures of 4-41

Northants took advantage of Essex's struggles at Derby to move ahead in the Division Two promotion race.

Nicky Boje's side dominated day two against Leicestershire, moving from 465-6 to 600-8 declared, with Andrew Hall making 159 and Boje 90 not out.

The hosts then bowled Leicestershire out for 280, with Hall picking up 4-41, and had enough time to reduce the hosts to 30-2 after enforcing the follow-on.

Northants will be promoted to Division One if they win and Essex draw or lose.

With the home side looking for quick runs in the morning session, Boje hammered 31 from the opening three overs of the day.

His stand with Hall was worth 141 when Hall gave a return catch to Wayne White for 159, four runs short of his career best.

Johannes van der Wath's brisk 30 hastened the declaration, but Northants were initially frustrated with the ball by an opening stand of 51 between Matt Boyce and Paul Nixon.

Boyce, in his first game as captain, edged Lee Daggett to Stephen Peters in the slips to be dismissed for 20 before Nixon (52) and Greg Smith (26) took the score to 106.

But when both fell, to Boje and Hall respectively, it began a collapse which saw the visitors lose their last nine wickets for 112 runs.

After being asked to follow-on, the visitors had to negotiate the final hour of the day's play.

But, David Lucas (2-13) had both Boyce and nightwatchman AJ Harris caught by wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien to leave Northants on course for promotion and Leicestershire on course for the wooden spoon.