Newton ton frustrates leaders

Rob Newton scored his second century of the season for Northants to frustrate the promotion ambitions of the Division Two leaders, Derbyshire.

Newton made a brilliant 115 off 174 balls as Northamptonshire closed on 311 for 6 with his knock including 13 fours and one huge six over mid-wicket.

Derbyshire took wickets at regular intervals throughout the day but could not put the hosts under any real pressure as Tony Palladino and David Wainwright took two victims each.

Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat but they lost Kyle Coetzer in just the third over when he left a Palladino delivery that hit off stump. David Sales then became the second batsman to lose his wicket without playing a shot when he was trapped lbw by Wainwright to depart for 26.

Ireland international Niall O'Brien had started slowly in an unaccustomed role as an opener but had pushed his way to 41 by the time he edged Wainwright to Wes Durston at slip.

Northamptonshire reached lunch on 122 for 3 but they were to lose Alex Wakely very cheaply for 37 in the afternoon when he tamely chipped Jon Clare to Matt Lineker at short mid-wicket.

South African Andrew Hall dug in and was caught by Derbyshire wicketkeeper Tom Poynton off the bowling of Ross Whiteley after crawling to 15 off 78 balls.

Derbyshire took the new ball immediately but Newton completed the fourth century of his career off 165 balls to follow up the ton he made against Glamorgan at Wantage Road last month.

He finally perished with nine overs of the day left when he edged to Poynton to give Palladino his second wicket and fall just two runs short of his career-best score.

James Middlebrook, who made a century of his own in this fixture last season, then reached 50, off 76 deliveries, in the final over of the day.