Wessels ton boosts Northants

Worcestershire will be reliant on Ben Smith against Northants

Riki Wessels’ second first-class century has given Northamptonshire a sniff of their first Frizzell County Championship Division Two victory of the season.

Northants were in trouble at 187 for five, a lead of just 102, before 19-year-old Wessels helped his side past 350 and set the visitors a testing 282 to win.

And by the close of play Northants had taken five wickets to leave them in the box seat ahead of day four.

Resuming on 81 for one, the hosts soon lost Tim Roberts to Ray Price for one. But Bilal Shafayat, who has been struggling of late after an impressive start to the season, finally found his form.

The former England Under-19 captain passed 50, but lost former Nottinghamshire colleague Usman Afzaal soon after – Gareth Batty’s off-spin accounting for him.

Price then had Shafayat caught by Kabir Ali at mid-off 16 short of a century before Shoaib Akhtar enticed a nick off Northants skipper David Sales and Ben Smith held on.

Then came the Wessels show. The teenager was ably supported by Australian all-rounder Damien Wright in a sixth-wicket stand of 104 before Wright fell to Ali for 47.

Ben Phillips hung around for a useful 17 while Wessels peppered the ball to all corners of the ground.

Kabir ended Phillips’ resistance with one that nipped back to bowl him and the very next ball the England bowler trapped Monty Panesar plumb in front.

Northants needed a tail-ender to help Wessels and Johann Louw stepped up to the plate, surviving over half and hour for five - allowing Wessels to go to a ton that included 16 boundaries.

Louw eventually fell to Batty and Wessels was soon stumped by Steven Davies off Batty for 102 - leaving Worcester chasing 282 for victory.

Worcester openers Stephen Moore and Steven Davies took 54 quick runs off seamers Wright and Louw - but the introduction of spinners Panesar and Jason Brown reaped instant rewards.

Panesar had Moore caught by Afzaal for 17 and Shafayat snaffled Graeme Hick off the same bowler for a duck.

And when Brown forced Davies to edge to Wessels for 37, the visitors still needed over 200.

Worcester skipper Vikram Solanki added 53 for the fourth wicket with Smith, but Panesar crucially removed him before the close for 22.

Smith remained unbeaten on 50, but lost nightwatchman Price in the final over of the day.

Zander de Bruyn survived the final two balls and the destination of the points could hinge on what de Bruyn and Smith can do – Worcester still needing 144 runs to win with five wickets remaining.