GRACE ROAD (Day two of four)

Leicestershire 527 all out; Northants 140 for 1

Lunch

Under bright skies, Leicestershire, who resumed at 288 for four lost James Allenby in the third over of the morning when he was lbw to Johan van der Wath half forward. The Australian-born all-rounder finished with 70 off 147 balls with 12 fours.

Van der Wath struck again shortly afterwards when he had Claude Henderson brilliantly caught at first slip by Andrew Hall. That left Leicestershire 318 for six but Paul Nixon, whose wife Jenny had given birth to their first child in the early hours before the first day, joined Jacques du Toit to add an unbroken 90 in 17 overs for the seventh wicket.

The 28-year-old South African reached a maiden championship 50 for Leicestershire from 115 balls with 10 fours, while Nixon went in to lunch unbeaten on 42. Northamptonshire lost Lance Klusener after he had bowled just one ball when the former South Africa all-rounder left the field having started the over with a wide.

Tea

Leicestershire cemented their position of strength in the afternoon session, Jacques Du Toit posting a maiden hundred for his new country off 184 balls. Thanks to the 28-year-old South African and a pugnacious 79 from 104 balls from Paul Nixon, Leicestershire amassed 527, their highest score for two years.

Du Toit, who qualifies for England in October through residency, struck 16 fours as well as a huge straight six off Nicky Boje. Nixon, with whom he added 129 in 28 overs for the seventh wicket, also cleared the boundary off the Northants skipper as well as hitting 10 fours. Jermaine Lawson, the West Indies fast bowler, was another to tuck into the visitors' bowling, crashing two sixes as Leicestershire recorded maximum batting points for the second time this campaign.

Close

When Northamptonshire finally got their chance to bat, Leicestershire’s bowlers made as little impact as the visitor’s. Not until the 14th over did the home-side make a breakthrough when Jermaine Lawson yorked Stephen Peters in his first over.

By that time, Niall O’Brien, the Dublin born lefthander, was batting most positively as he hit 12 fours in his 50, reached in only 65 balls. Riki Wessels gave him some assured support, but when stumps were drawn with O’Brien on 76 not out, extras with 27, were second top scorer. Northants need 378 to save the follow-on but went a long way towards doing so on a run-filled day.

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