A strong all round bowling performance from Northamptonshire has left them in a strong position heading into the final day at Grace Road.
Beginning the day with a slender lead and 3 wickets in hand, Berg and Bracewell set about taking Northamptonshire past a fourth batting point. The pair added 13 and took the total to 338 before Berg was trapped in front by Davis. Bracewell pushed on and claimed the extra bonus point before he lost Hutton at the other end without scoring. Bracewell then went himself without taking the score any further, caught at mid on looking to force the issue.
Leicestershire began their second innings 49 runs behind and lost their first wicket without denting the deficit, Horton lbw to Sanderson for his second duck in the match. Berg came into the attack and struck in his first over, Azad edging a rising ball to Wakely at first slip with Cosgrove lbw to Hutton just 8 overs later.
The Cosgrove dismissal began a run of 7 successive LBW dismissals, taking the total to 8 which saw Northamptonshire equal the record for most in an innings. Rhodes, Ackermann, Swindells, Parkinson, Dexter and Davis all saw the finger raised after being struck on the pad. Northamptonshire claimed regular wickets throughout the innings, Procter eventually wrapping things up by hitting the top of Wright’s off stump. Leicestershire bowled out for 189, seeing Northamptonshire 141 to win.
It was a bright start again by Curran and Newton, albeit in somewhat gloomy conditions late on Day 3. The pair took the score to 22 without loss after 5 of the remaining 10 overs, the umpires calling an early end to play as the light deteriorated. Northamptonshire head into the final day needed a further 119 for victory.
Leicestershire 308 (Procter 3/54, Hutton 3/62) & 189 (Sanderson 3/37, Berg 2/33)
Northamptonshire 325/7 (Keogh 132, Rossington 63) & 22/0 (Newton 12*, Curran 10*)