Northants slip as Siddle takes four

If Northamptonshire are to survive in Division One of the County Championship this season they will need to seize every good position they get. Their collapse of 8 for 116 at Trent Bridge as the contest finally got underway after lunch on the second day was a wasted opportunity.

107 for 0 having been asked to bat first was evidence that Northants possess batsmen capable of making useful runs but their middle order contained four single-figures scores as Nottinghamshire ended the day in better shape.

Peter Siddle was the pick of the attack with four wickets, including both openers. Captain Stephen Peters and James Middlebrook put on 107 inside 27 overs but their partnership was broken when Siddle had the latter caught behind and from there the visitors slipped alarmingly.

Within 10 minutes Siddle had a second victim when he removed David Sales as Northamptonshire, who have signed New Zealand bowler Ian Butler until the end of July and compatriot Neil Wagner for the final five championship matches of the season, reached tea at 130 for 2.

It was Nottinghamshire's Kiwi Andre Adams, making his first appearance of the season, who made a telling contribution as he flattened Matt Spriegel's middle stump and then held on as Peters clipped Siddle to midwicket to fall for 88.

Siddle claimed a fourth victim when Ben Duckett gave wicketkeeper Chris Read his third catch of the innings while two quick wickets from Ajmal Shazad saw him finish with 3 for 44 as Northamptonshire closed ruing their missed opportunity.