Hall and Willey put Northants well ahead

Northamptonshire captain Andrew Hall and David Willey each took two wickets as the hosts continued to boss their match against Gloucestershire.

Scotland international Kyle Coetzer made 96 off 236 balls, including 12 fours, as Northants added 109 to their overnight total before finally being bowled out for 411. In reply, Gloucestershire struggled to the close on 156 for 6, still 255 runs behind their opponents and needing another 106 to avoid the follow-on, with Willey taking 2 for 32 and Hall 2 for 33.

Northants began the day looking strong on 302 for 4 with Coetzer resuming on 81 and Hall beginning his innings. Hall made just a single, however, before he was trapped lbw by Ian Saxelby in the third over of the day. Northants wicketkeeper David Murphy then made only eight before he departed in the same manner to give Liam Norwell his first wicket of the season.

Coetzer then fell cheaply just four runs short of a second century of the season when he smashed Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman to Ed Young at deep midwicket. The collapse continued when Willey (18) was bowled by Norwell as the visitors clawed their way back into contention with Northants on 366 for 8 at lunch. Lee Daggett was the next to perish, but only after a painfully slow 15 off 80 balls, when he missed his drive off Kane Williamson and the ball hit his middle and off stumps.

Young then took the final Northants wicket when David Burton (11) played him on to his stumps, leaving Con de Lange unbeaten on 40. Burton, who his playing in his first County Championship game of the season, struck in the fourth over of Gloucestershire's reply when he emphatically bowled Benny Howell for 4. New Zealand international Williamson then made only seven before he edged Willey on to his leg stump.

The visitors' problems deepened when Alex Gidman departed for 4 when he was superbly caught by Hall at first slip off the bowling of Willey to leave them on 38 for 3 at tea.

Chris Dent departed on 42 when Stephen Peters took a good low catch diving forward at extra cover off Daggett. Ian Cockbain followed for eight when he edged Hall to Peters, who this time was standing at first slip, before Hall struck again when he took out Will Gidman's off stump to condemn the batsman to a 10-ball duck.

Hamish Marshall and wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty then survived the final nine overs and will resume tomorrow on 49 and 9 respectively.