COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Northants 385-9 dec v Worcestershire
Northants 3pts, Worcs 2pts
Match scorecard

Peters has scored 1,205 first-class runs this season

Stephen Peters, Rob Newton and Andrew Hall all hit half-centuries as Northants made steady progress on day three against Worcestershire.

After much of the first two days were lost to rain, Northants resumed on 96-3 and had reached 385-9 before declaring to bring the day to a close.

New Road old boy Peters, who began the day on 38, top scored with 75, backed by skipper Hall (65) and Newton (56).

Alan Richardson ended with 4-83, while Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3-75.

A draw now seems inevitable unless both captains agree to try to contrive a result before play resumes on the final morning.

Northants had begun the day in confident fashion with Peters completing a patient half-century off 123 balls, while 20-year-old Newton was more explosive, reaching his milestone off 59 deliveries.

But his aggression proved his undoing as he launched Gareth Andrew to Richardson at deep square leg to end a fourth-wicket stand of 80 with Peters, who was then trapped leg before by Shakib in the over before lunch.

Northants' other Worcestershire old boy Hall became the third home player to reach 50 before feathering a catch to wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

James Middlebrook was bowled for 40 to become Shakib's third victim, with David Murphy and Jack Brooks then adding 68 for the ninth wicket before the declaration finally came.

BBC Hereford and Worcester's Dave Bradley reflects on the action:
"With the weather taking a major chunk out of the game, it is going nowhere unless there is some collusion by the captains on the last day.

"Having said that, the pedestrian rate at which Northants batted in the afternoon session was difficult to understand, or was it that Worcestershire were bowling very well?

"The declaration, with the last two in and 10 minutes left of the day's play, simply to waste two overs, rather summed it up.

"Rob Newton impressed before going for one too many hooks, Shakib again bowled tidily, and the veteran Richardson ran in all day.

"Will Shakib return to New Road next summer? It will no doubt depend on international calls, money and his desire to get back on the treadmill of county cricket."

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