Keogh and Stone offer rare bright spots

Northamptonshire 251 for 7 (Keogh 104*, Duckett 60) trail Sussex 368 (Zaidi 88, Wells 81, Yardy 56, Magoffin 51, Stone 5-48) by 117 runs
Scorecard

Rob Keogh led a fightback by Division One basement club Northamptonshire against Sussex on the second day at Wantage Road.

The home side are 251 for 7 at the game's midway stage, with an unbeaten 104 from Keogh moving them to within 117 of Sussex's first innings score of 368.

The visitors began briskly after resuming on 300 for 7 with Ashar Zaidi and Steve Magoffin bringing up a century partnership. Despite James Middlebrook's offspin offering turn and with Graeme White off the field with a finger injury, bat dominated ball early on, with Sussex going at a run a minute.

Olly Stone's introduction ceased the flow as the first hour ended, when he bowled Zaidi 12 runs short of his maiden Championship century. However, Magoffin reached his half-century with a flashing cut off Neil Wagner - his first for Sussex, four overs later,

Stone induced the edge to have Magoffin caught behind by Adam Rossington and five balls later Chris Liddle followed as Sussex's innings ended on 368 - with the 21-year-old Stone finishing with career-best figures of 5 for 68.

When Magoffin had the ball in his hand, the leading wicket-taker in Division One ripped out Stephen Peters and James Kettleborough to leave the home side 17 for 2 at lunch.

However, Middlebrook and Keogh led Northamptonshire to calmer waters and two straight drives from the former off Zaidi's left-arm spin signalled their sense of control. It would be ended in bizarre fashion half an hour before tea.

With Magoffin brought back to break up the partnership, umpire Peter Willey deemed the Australian to have broken the stumps in the delivery stride. Willey initially signalled no-ball, but after consultation with both sides, he changed his mind after it was felt the strong westerly winds had blown a bail off and dead ball was then called.

However, with the seventh ball of the 30th over Middlebrook, on 48, drove to Zaidi at mid-off, and was run out comfortably thanks to a direct hit.

This was the last match in which Willey and fellow umpire George Sharp, will officiate thanks to an ECB age limit, unless their legal challenge is successful. Neither would want to exit the first-class scene with such an incident in their final game, particularly on a ground where they both served Northamptonshire with distinction as a player.

Keogh, at the non-striker's end at the time, said: "I don't think anyone realised at the time. I know Peter was asking the scorers whether there was one ball left and there was a delay - but they decided to get on with the game. It's just one of those things.''

Rossington soon followed Middlebrook, but a partnership of 99 between Keogh and 19-year-old Ben Duckett kept the hosts interested.

Although Duckett fell before the close, followed by Andrew Hall, Keogh would reach his century in the final over of the day.