Northants and Leicestershire delicately poised

Northamptonshire skipper David Ripley faces a difficult declaration on the final day of his side's Division One contest with Leicestershire at Wantage Road.

The visitors secured an unexpected first-innings lead of 15 thanks to a dogged ninth-wicket stand of 84 between Aftab Habib (74 not out) and Richard Davis (51) which guided Leicestershire to 484 all out.

Northants openers Mike Hussey and Alec Swann then carried the hosts to 123-0 at the close - 108 runs in front. But the presence of Shahid Afridi at the top of the Leicestershire order will make Ripley's task a tricky one, even on a pitch offering the spinners some help.

Leicestershire slid from 359-4 to 393-8 in the morning session with left-arm spinner Monty Panesar snapping up three quick wickets on his first-class debut on his way to an impressive return of 4-120 from 35 testing overs.

That brought in Davis to play his first Championship knock for four years, and he held up Northants for 34 overs to make it a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for Ripley's men.

The second new ball failed to shift the pair, and it was left to Panesar to make the key breakthrough when Davis edged behind just before tea. Habib then looked less than delighted as Devon Malcolm was bowled aiming a wild swing at Jason Brown, leaving him stranded.

Northants needed quick runs in the final session and Hussey and Swann were able to oblige, keeping their team in with a chance of claiming the victory then need to keep alive hopes of avoiding the drop.