NORTHAMPTON (third day of four).

Northamptonshire 385 and 170 for four (SD Peters 59, DJG Sales 47). Warwickshire 243 (IDK Salisbury 54 not out, NM Carter 47, N Boje 4 for 26.).

Lunch

A few eyebrows were raised when Ian Salisbury, the former England leg spinner, secured a two-year contract with Warwickshire after being released by Surrey at the end of last season but he has been quick to prove his worth.

Warwickshire still needed 107 to avoid the follow-on when they resumed at 129 for seven but Salisbury and Neil Carter scored 69 off the first 15 overs to take their eighth wicket partnership to 82.

Carter provided the fireworks, hitting three sixes off Lance Klusener – and losing two balls in the process – and five fours besides before he was caught at extra cover off Klusener for 47.

Salisbury, making his Warwickshire debut against his native county at the age of 38, was more sedate but he also hit Klusener for six on his way to 50 off 102 balls and by lunch he and Monde Zondeki had saved the follow on and taken Warwickshire to 242 for eight.

Tea

Zondeki slashed the first ball after lunch from David Lucas straight to point and soon afterwards Lee Daggett became Nicky Boje's fourth victim to leave Salisbury unbeaten on 54 after facing 130 balls and hitting a six and 10 fours.

For all his efforts, Northamptonshire still had a lead of 142 and they had increased it by 36 when Alex Wakely drove loosely at Daggett and was caught at point for the second time in the match.

Daggett could also have dismissed Rob White in his next over but Tim Ambrose, the England wicketkeeper, could not hold a hard chance high to his right and by tea Northamptonshire were 202 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand.

Close

White did not last much longer before he again edged Daggett and Ambrose took a much more straightforward catch but that only brought in David Sales to launch a blistering assault on the Warwickshire attack.

Sales hit four fours in one over from Daggett, four more off successive balls from Carter in the next over and had made 43 out of 55 in six overs for the third wicket when Stephen Peters, who had made a more restrained 59, was brilliant caught by Ant Botha at point off Daggett.

Sales struck one more four, taking him to 47 off 29 balls, before he drove Botha high to long off but he had given Northamptonshire the acceleration they needed and they finished 312 ahead and in position to set Warwickshire a challenging target.