A hard fought 66 from the on-loan Luke Wood proved vital before Ben Sanderson found a late breakthrough on Day 1 in Manchester.
New signings Jamie Procter and Luke Wood came into the eleven alongside South African international Temba Bavuma. While captain Alex Wakely chose to contest the toss, both sides ended up with their preference, Lancashire winning the toss and electing to bowl.
Northamptonshire had three batsmen in the middle after a couple of overs, Rob Newton picking up an injury running between wickets and calling for the help of a runner. Progress was steady before Vasconcelos was caught behind off Gleeson for 23 with Alex Wakely falling the same way four overs later. Vasconcelos stayed in the middle though, taking on the role of runner and seeing Northamptonshire through to lunch at 80 for 2.
Things turned south for the visitors after the break, losing Newton, Keogh and Cobb within five overs. Temba Bavuma showed his pedigree on the way to 39 before a big appeal saw him depart lbw. Procter and Wood then combined for the best partnership of the day, the pair adding 70 in the afternoon session. Both looked comfortable before a wicket came against the run of play, Procter edging to first slip on the verge of tea for a well made 48.
Jamie Overton and Nathan Buck went in successive deliveries a few overs after tea, Buck on the receiving end of superb delivery from Onions which beat the outside edge to find off stump. A final wicket partnership of 21 between Wood and Sanderson helped Northamptonshire to 230 before a top edge saw them bowled out in the 79th over.
All four bowlers used by Alex Wakely kept things tight in the last 15 overs of the day. Ben Sanderson claiming the first Lancashire wicket in the 11th over, finding the edge from Hameed through to Vasconcelos. Lancashire finishing the day 29/1.
Northamptonshire 230 (Wood 66, Procter 48)
Lancashire 29/1 (Sanderson 1/9)
Lancashire trail by 201 runs with 9 wickets in hand.