Luke Procter stood out for Northamptonshire as the bowlers worked hard on Day 1 against Leicestershire.
Doug Bracewell, Gareth Berg and Richard Levi all came into the Northamptonshire eleven as captain Adam Rossington chose to bowl without tossing on the first morning.
Brett Hutton struck with just his second ball, drawing an edge from Horton which was safely pouched by Wakely at first slip. Leicestershire steadied until Berg joined the attack, the Hampshire loanee taking a wicket with his first ball for Northamptonshire when he had Ackermann caught at point.
Cosgrove and Azad added 122 for the third wicket before Ben Sanderson produced an outstanding delivery to move away and clip the off bail of Cosgrove. Luke Procter looked threatening throughout his spell, consistently beating the bat before striking twice in two balls to wrestle control back for the visitors. He dismissed the set Azad for 86 when the opener chopped an angling delivery back onto his stumps before finding some extra movement through the air to rap the front pad of Dexter the next delivery.
Rhodes and Swindells began to build a partnership before Berg claimed his second wicket, trapping Swindells in front with the score at 224. Northamptonshire took the new ball immediately and had the breakthrough shortly after, Hutton with his second as Parkinson went LBW.
Leicestershire looked like making it through to the close without further loss, Procter however returned to the attack to claim his third as Wright chipped a ball to Curran at square leg in the second last over of the day.
Leicestershire 276/8 (Procter 3/43, Berg 2/43)