Lancs' in-form Harris punishes sloppy Northants

Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day two)

Northamptonshire 238 & 140-6: Keogh 28; Balderson 2-36, Williams 2-38

Lancashire 276: Harris 121, Hurst 59; Conway 3-48, Procter 3-70

Northamptonshire 3 pts, Lancashire 4 pts

Match scorecard

Marcus Harris continued his devastating form for Lancashire, recording his third century in nine innings on day two of this County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The Australia international extended his tally as county cricket's leading run scorer this season to 706 runs with a magnificent 121 from 230 balls, including 18 boundaries, making Northamptonshire pay for a rash of dropped catches.

Harris stretched his overnight fourth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Matty Hurst (59) to 125 after both were dropped off difficult chances on Friday evening on 28 and 0 respectively.

Liam Guthrie's determined, probing seven-over spell ed for Hurst before Northamptonshire's fielding again let them down, the slip cordon shelling three chances off his bowling, including Harris on 82.

A hostile Luke Procter (3-70) finally ed for Harris and saw the Northamptonshire skipper move past 100 first-class wickets for the county before Harry Conway (3-48) wrapped up the tail. Lancashire closed on 276, taking a first-innings lead of 38.

Lancashire's seamers were relentless on a wicket still offering assistance, with Northamptonshire stumbling to 65-4 before rallying. However, a wicket in the final saw them finish on 140-6, their game hanging in the balance.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, ed by Rothesay