da heads bet： Northamptonshire opener Stephen Peters struck his second century of the seasonbut leaders Sussex’s late fightback has left the match hanging in the balance
19-May-2010
Scorecard
Northamptonshire opener Stephen Peters struck his second century of the seasonbut leaders Sussex’s late fightback has left the match hanging in the balance. Peters’ brilliant knock of 136 from 251 balls was the bedrock of the homeside’s total of 274 all out which gave them a handy lead of 99 runs.Ollie Rayner was the pick of the Sussex attack taking three for 45, with formerWest Indies paceman Corey Collymore also claiming three wickets.But the visitors, who had been skittled for 175 on the first day, had littleproblem in pulling back the deficit and closed on 137 for 2, 38 runs ahead. Northants started the day on 118 for 5, 57 runs behind, with Peters resuming on 55 and former captain Nicky Boje starting his innings after new skipper Andrew Hall was bowled by the final ball of the first day.Boje, who relinquished the captaincy on Monday in a bid to improve his ownform, made just a single before he went cheaply by smashing James Anyon straightto Robin Martin-Jenkins at mid-off.A boundary through extra cover from James Middlebrook moved the hosts ahead inthe 59th over of their innings and he made 25 before edging spinner Rayner to EdJoyce at slip. Peters then reached his century off 203 balls, which included 14 fours and went on to smash a huge six down the ground in the first over after lunch offRayner.David Willey (11) was trapped lbw by Rayner in the fifth over after lunchbefore Collymore was finally able to remove Peters when he was caught behind byEngland wicketkeeper Matt Prior.Collymore then finished Northants’ innings by taking out Jack Brooks’ off stumpfor four, leaving the hosts with a lead of 99. Early in Sussex’s second innings, Chris Nash pulled a four to go past 4,000 career first-class runs on his 27th birthday.The visitors’ openers, Nash and Michael Thornely, managed to survive 15 oversbefore tea to leave their side on 42 without loss. But Nash fell in the fourth over after the interval for 32 when he edged Lee Daggett straight to David Sales at second slip.Joyce survived a scare when he was dropped by Sales in the same position beforea 50 partnership between him and Thornely helped put Sussex ahead again. But Joyce (30) finally went when he pushed Middlebrook to Alex Wakely at short leg with Thornely and Murray Goodwin guiding them through to the close, unbeaten on 45 and 21 respectively.