Northamptonshire Takes Control Against Lancashire in County Championship

Northamptonshire is poised for a County Championship victory against Lancashire at Old Trafford, leading by 355 runs after a strong performance in their first innings, where they posted 496 runs, their highest total at the venue. Saif Zaib and James Sales played pivotal roles in establishing this lead, with Zaib scoring an unbeaten 111 and Sales contributing 92 runs. In response, Lancashire struggled, with their second innings stuttering at 126-2, despite a notable 120-run partnership between Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon. Liam Guthrie's early wicket of Jennings, who scored 49 in the first innings, and a solid bowling display from Northamptonshire, including four wickets from Lewis McManus, have placed the visitors in a commanding position. The match marks a significant potential milestone for Northamptonshire, as they seek their first County Championship win at this ground since 1999. As the match approaches its conclusion, the focus remains on whether Lancashire can mount a sufficient comeback.