Northamptonshire’s bowlers persevered admirably on day one, taking seven wickets as Lancashire closed 346 for seven on the opening say of the Rothesay County Championship season.
The bowlers stuck at their task all day. Australian quick Harry Conway (2-80) and Ben Sanderson (2-55) fought back with three late wickets for 10 runs in five overs with the second new ball to keep the hosts firmly in the game.
After losing the toss, Darren Lehmann’s side were made to bowl first on a cloudy morning at Wantage Road with Ben Sanderson and Harry Conway taking the new ball.
Despite Lancashire losing just one wicket, Sanderson and Conway troubled openers Wells and Harry Singh (18) in the first hour with plenty of balls nibbling off the seam, both bowlers having shouts for lbw turned down.
Sanderson took the early wicket of Harry Singh, caught by George Bartlett at slip, to leave the away side 43-1 after the first hour. Luke Wells and Josh Bohannon settled, though, scoring quickly and stylishly as Lancashire reached 99-1 at lunch.
Wells stroked consecutive boundaries through the covers off Conway and took on James Sales, pulling a short, slow one before smacking two further fours through extra cover as he registered his half-century off 70 balls.
Lancashire moved past 100 after the break, steadily accumulating as the sun began to shine in the afternoon. While Northamptonshire kept rotating their attack, they were unable to build consistent pressure or create many chances beyond a couple of optimistic lbw shouts.
Wells drove Sanderson sweetly for four to bring up the 100 partnership and cut Sales behind square, while Bohannon celebrated his half-century before collecting back-to-back boundaries as Sales strayed in line and length.
Harrison finally broke the stand, claiming the key scalp of Wells when he charged down the wicket and was sharply stumped by Lewis McManus.
Conway was much more threatening when he returned from the Lynn Wilson Centre End, getting the ball to lift and beat the bat. It was Procter though who struck, with George Bell helping a short delivery around the corner into the gloves of McManus.
Zaib struck on the resumption after tea when Bohannon was bowled by a ball that was too full to cut. However Jones picked up the mantle, driving Zaib and cutting Sales for boundaries as Lancashire moved past 250. He clubbed Harrison down the ground for four and punched him through the covers.
With Lancashire looking set to post a sizeable score, the new ball lifted the home side as Northamptonshire made use of helpful conditions and bowled superbly, with Conway and Sanderson causing problems regularly in the final hour.
Conway’s perseverance paid off though when he nipped one away slightly, Jones edging to slip.
Conway almost dismissed George Balderson twice on 1, a half-chance to a diving McManus and an edge over the slip cordon, before having Matty Hurst caught by Harrison at second slip. Sanderson nipped one back to trap Tom Hartley lbw before the close.