Northants-Derbyshire: Leaders at risk of follow-on at Wantage Road

County Championship Division Two, Northampton (day two, close):

Northants 400 v Derbyshire 163-5

Northants 4pts, Derbyshire 2pts

Match scorecard

Division Two leaders Derbyshire will start day three needing 88 runs to avoid the follow-on after again being bettered by Northants at Wantage Road.

Resuming on 311-6, Northants piled up 400, James Middlebrook making 71, supported by David Willey (60no).

The visitors then slumped to 79-3 before a 76-run stand between Dan Redfern (70) and Wayne Madsen (37no).

But two late wickets left Derbyshire in peril on 163-5, as Northants chase a win to retain outside promotion hopes.

Earlier, paceman Tony Palladino (5-82) and spinner David Wainwright (3-99) proved to be Derbyshire's two best operators with the ball.