County offer some resistance as Lancashire close in on emphatic victory

Andrew Hall battled away in both innings but his efforts are unlikely to save Northants from defeat number seven

At the close of the third day, the visitors had reached 231-8 needing another 239 to make the home side bat again.

Such a scenario is highly unlikely and another innings loss, which would be their fifth such defeat, is on the cards.

The County offered more resistance second time around with Stephen Peters contributing 41 and Andrew Hall still there at the close on 36.

Tom Smith was the pick of the home attack with 3-56 to complement his first innings haul of 4-26.

That, along with Glen Chapple’s 5-51, had dismissed the County for 180 in the morning session after they had resumed on their overnight 113-7.

Hall finsihed unbeaten on 42 as his batting form continues to improve and there was a late flurry from Muhammad Azharullah (28) but this merely delayed the inevitable.

Chapple had no hesitation enforcing the follow-on and only a two-hour delay for bad light and rain ensured the contest would go into a final day.