Sales and White steady Northants

David Sales went calmly to his third half-century in the championship this season

David Sales and Rob White both hit unbeaten half-centuries as Northamptonshire rallied on a rain-affected third day at Grace Road.

Their stand of 199 for the third wicket, allied with stoppages, leaves the LV County Championship Division Two clash with Leicestershire almost certainly heading for a draw.

Only 37.4 overs were possible before the rain set in half-an-hour after lunch with Northants placed on 276 for three, still 251 runs behind Leicestershire's first innings total of 527.

Leicestershire briefly had the visitors struggling when they removed Niall O’Brien and Riki Wessels within four balls.

But Sales and White pulled Northants out of trouble with a partnership of 119 in 33 overs.

The visitors resumed the third day on 144 for one but lost two early wickets.

Wessels, having been dropped at second slip off Dillon du Preez while 28, failed to capitalise on his good fortune and five runs later edged a lifting delivery from Nadeem Malik to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon.

In the next over from du Preez, O'Brien, who had added just two runs to his overnight 76, was also caught behind as he aimed an expansive drive at a wide delivery outside of stump which found the edge.

That left Northants at 157 for three and gave Leicestershire a glimmer of hope that they could bowl them out for less than the 378 needed to avoid the follow-on.

But Sales and White took charge and some loose bowling by the home attack saw a flurry of runs with both batsmen helping themselves to a succession of boundaries.

Sales hit one superb six off Claude Henderson but it was White who reached his half century first, off 84 balls with nine fours.

Sales struck Henderson for another maximum and brought up his third fifty in championship cricket this season after lunch, in 96 balls.

With both batsmen in full flow and 136 runs added in 37.4 overs the rain began to fall soon after the lunch interval.

It continued steadily throughout the afternoon, and although there was a brief respite after tea a 5.30pm inspection by the umpires saw them abandon play for the day.