Northants v Lancashire: Simon Katich hits double century

Northants face a final-day battle to avoid defeat after Simon Katich's superb double century gave Lancashire the upper hand on day three.

Lancashire led by 132 after totalling 442 and Simon Kerrigan then took 3-28 as the home side ended on 123-4.

Katich made exactly 200, including a six and 26 fours, and shared a stand of 128 with skipper Glen Chapple (57).

Left-arm seamer David Willey was the pick of the Northants attack, removing Chapple to end with figures of 5-108.

It had looked as if Lancashire's lead would be small after the loss of four wickets for 17 runs during the morning, three of them to Willey, saw them stumble from 291-4 to 308-8.

But Katich, who batted for more than eight hours in total. and Chapple had other ideas and after they were finally all out, the latter was soon causing problems with the ball as Kyle Coetzer was well caught by Karl Brown at third slip for 10.

David Sales (30) and James Middlebrook added 50 before Sales was bowled by a well-flighted delivery from left-arm spinner Kerrigan, who also pierced the defences of Ben Duckett (24) and Cameron White in the day's final overs - Middlebrook surviving on 46 not out.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Northampton's Chris Egerton:

"Northants have it all to do on the final day if they are to avoid a double defeat by Lancashire and hang on to the initiative in the Division Two title race.

"Simon Kerrigan will be a real handful bowling to significant rough outside the off stump.

"It will be a real achievement if Northants get away with a draw."

BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read:

"Another excellent day of county cricket ended with Lancashire sensing a third successive Championship win.

"Australia's loss was most definitely Lancashire's gain with Simon Katich looking in imperious form as he made his first double century in England since 2007 in England, and the first by a Red Rose player since 2008."

"Late wickets from Simon Kerrigan certainly swung momentum the way of the visitors, but there was bad news for them after learning that Stephen Parry, who is not playing in the game, but broke his left forearm in the nets, will be out for 12 weeks."

Match scorecard