Peters' injury is bad break for Northants

Northamptonshire 91 for 4 v Leicestershire
Scorecard

Northamptonshire, the second division leaders in the Championship, suffered a blow before their match against Leicestershire had begun when their captain Stephen Peters was ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken finger.

Peters suffered the injury during a morning net session, meaning he was replaced in the side by 21-year-old Rob Keogh. Keogh had been due to appear for the second XI against Somerset in Taunton Vale before he was summoned back to Northampton for his second County Championship match.

Struggling Leicestershire looked potential victims in Northants' confident start to the season, but the leaders struggled with the bat, reaching 91 for 4 on a showery day restricted to 34 overs.

Persistent drizzle meant there was no play before 2.30pm and then only 15 balls were possible before another downpour forced the players off.

Leicestershire made a breakthrough soon after play resumed when James Middlebrook sliced Ollie Freckingham to Jigar Naik at gully after making just two. While Middlebrook was trudging back to the pavilion, the heavens opened yet again leaving the players with another sprint for shelter after another 22 deliveries had been bowled. Tea was taken with Northants on 6 for 1.

Play got underway again at 4:45pm and Northants soon lost David Sales cheaply for 10 when he was taken by Naik at gully off the bowling of Alex Wyatt. Leicestershire brought on Robbie Williams in the 17th over and he claimed the wicket of Matthew Spriegel, who chipped him to Matthew Boyce at square leg to perish on 11.

Stand-in captain Alex Wakely made 18 before he was next back in the pavilion when he dragged Freckingham on to his off stump.