Afridi's thunder keeps Leicestershire in the hunt

Pakistan's Shahid Afridi upstaged Australia's Mike Hussey as Leicestershire mounted an entertaining reply to Northamptonshire's 469 all out in the Division One tussle at Wantage Road.

Hussey dominated for the home side, stroking 34 fours in his superb 232 - a new Northants record against the old local rivals, eclipsing the 210 made by Dennis Brookes at Grace Road in 1947.

But Afridi - who burst on the world scene with a whirwind 37-ball century off Sri Lanka's bowlers in a limited overs international nearly five years ago - responded by blasting the fastest hundred of the season to boost his side to 278-3 from 63 overs at the close.

Afridi's magnificent career-best 164 from 121 deliveries - featuring six sixes and 22 fours - gave a good-sized Friday crowd plenty to enjoy in the sunshine. He made it to three figures off just 74 balls and shared an opening stand of 233 in 43 overs with Iain Sutcliffe (64).

Northants off-spinner Jason Brown experienced the ups and downs of cricket during the day. He notched 35 not out batting at number eleven, easily the best score of his career, but then had 20 runs hit off his opening over by Afridi, including two sixes in three balls.

Graeme Swann eventually made the breakthrough, removing both Afridi and Sutcliffe, and Brown accounted for Trevor Ward cheaply, held at forward short leg, to keep Northants in contention with Leicestershire still needing a further 42 to avoid the follow-on.