Ben Sanderson claimed 6/54 to give Northamptonshire a valuable first innings lead, before half centuries from Levi and Rossington extended the advantage on Day 2.
A complete reversal from conditions on Day 1, bright blue skies greeted the players as they took to the field. Durham, having lost 4 early wickets the night before, resumed still trailing by 180. In just the second over of the day Ben Sanderson claimed his fourth five-wicket haul of the season as he dismissed Steel and Burnham within three deliveries. Steel bowled through the gate by a ball that nipped back in off the deck, Burnham getting the same delivery but getting his pad in the way only to see the finger go up.
Durham steadied but lost another before the score reached three figures, Raine caught off the inside edge by a diving Rossington off Hutton. The duo teamed up again, this time Rossington claiming a stumping courtesy of some lightning glovework down the legside. Ben Sanderson took his haul to 6 as he burst through Carse’s defence with Berg wrapping up the innings, taking a top edge through to Rossington. Durham all out for 131, Northamptonshire claiming an 86 run first innings lead.
Northamptonshire’s reply got off to a shaky start, Newton edging behind with no score on the board. Newton and Wakely again formed a strong partnership though, it moved to 54 before Curran edged to Watling at second slip. Wakely departed in the next over with the score still at 54 before Keogh was trapped in front shortly after.
Northamptonshire needed a partnership and Levi provided it alongside skipper Rossington. The pair added 91 and stretched the lead past 150 with a mixture of solid defence and sweetly struck boundaries. Levi went to his first Championship half century of the summer before crashing two identical cover drives to get the scoreboard moving. This increased tempo proved his downfall though as his well hit pullshot picked out the man on the square leg fence, ending his innings on 60.
Rossington found another partner in Procter as he posted his second half century of the match. The pair had the score nearing 200 before Rossington was bowled by a ball that kept low and skidded into his stumps. Overseas signing Doug Bracewell comfortably saw things through to the close alongside Procter, the partnership at 40 by stumps, the lead now 321.
Northamptonshire 217 (Rossington 82, Curran 36) & 235/6 (Levi 60, Rossington 52)
Durham 131 (Sanderson 6/54, Berg 2/17)