Lancashire clinch first win of the season at Northants.

Anderson's all-round contribution made him the key man for Lancashire.

James Anderson finished with 10-89 in Lancashire's trip to Northants as the visitors achieved their first win of the 2014 season, bowling Northants out for 179 to earn a 60-run victory.

It was the third time Anderson returned with ten wickets in a first-class match for Lancashire and the England International now has 18 wickets in three matches this season at an average of 16.88.

Northants needed a further 95 runs to win, with five wickets remaining, but were only able to add another 34 runs before they were bowled out by Anderson (5-41) and Glen Chapple (2-52).

Overnight batsman, Jamed Middlebrook gave Northants their best chance for success, but when he was removed by Chapple for 87, the highest score of the match, Lancashire were in a strong position to seize victory.

Anderson dealt early damage, removing Ben Duckett's (26) leading edge found its way back to the bowler, with Anderson diving forward to take the catch.

Once Middlebrook and Duckett's 80-run stand came to an end, the match became Lancashire's to lose, with Northants requiring a further 83 runs to win. Former Lancashire man, Steven Crook, displayed a lack of application, attempting to pull a delivery from Anderson and got a top-edge to Luke Procter at mid-on.

With the score now at 159-7, the odds were heavily in Lancashire's favour and the hosts would lose their last three wickets for just 12 runs to cement victory for Glen Chapple in his first match as coach at Lancashire.

The crucial wicket of Middlebrook gave Lancashire a clear route to victory, after Ashwell Prince took a smart catch at point to remove the opener for 87, with Chapple claiming the all important wicket.

The final two wickets of the innings would belonged to Kabir Ali (3-17), with Northants' second innings curtailing after the key breakthrough of Middlerbrook. Olly Stone had survived 75 balls in the first innings, but was only able to add three runs before edging behind to Jos Buttler.

With 63 runs still needed for victory, David Murphy (12*) and Azharullah could do little to prevent the inevitable, with the latter losing his off-stump to round things off.

Points: Northamptonshire 3pts, Lancashire 19pts

Man of the match: No prizes for guessing the key man in this match. James Anderson continued his imperious form for Lancashire, returning 10 wickets in the match to ensure the visitors would earn their first win of the season.

He claimed 5-48 in Northants' first innings and gave a near perfect performance second time around with 5-41. Before he even had the ball in hand he put his stamp on the match, making a somewhat fortuitous contribution of 28 and was the highest scorer in Lancashire's first innings.

Anderson wickets key as Northants match heads for exciting finish.

The prospect of play appeared bleak, but play eventually got underway at 1.45pm.

The final day of Lancashire's trip to Wantage Road could go either way, as Northamptonshire closed on 145-5 needing a further 95 runs to achieve their first win of the season, with James Anderson once again proving to be a key figure with the ball.

James Middlebrook (78*) and Ben Duckett's 65-run stand in the evening session resisted a torrent from Lancashire's imperious seam attack, after Anderson had earlier claimed 3-32 to put Northants in trouble at 77-5 in their chase of 240.

Lancashire resumed on 244-5 after persistent rain prevented play from starting until 1.45 pm, as they set their sights on setting the hosts a daunting fourth-innings chase, but were halted in their efforts by Olly Stone, who claimed 4-65.

Stone's spell of bowling in the early afternoon saw the young fast bowler claim four wickets for seven runs, as Lancashire lost their last five wickets for 30 runs. Buttler's first half-century for Lancashire had put the visitors in control overnight, but he added just six more runs before he was trapped LBW by a low ball from Azharullah.

The last four wickets all belonged to Stone, with the Lancashire tail demonstrating a certain amount of impatience after Tom Smith was caught superbly by Steven Crook for 54. When Simon Kerrigan (10) lost his middle stump to Stone, Lancashire's second innings was brought to a close and a target of 240 seemed to be more than enough to bowl at, particularly in such a low-scoring affair.

The abrupt end to Lancashire's innings became somewhat vindicated by Northamptonshire's start with the bat, losing their first five wicket for 77 runs, after Anderson inflicted a heavy blow to the hosts' run chase.

Stephen Peters (9) was the first Northants batsmen to fall without making a worthwhile contribution, but can be forgiven for being bowled by a delivery from Anderson which would have had most batsmen taking a second look at the pitch.

Middlebrook and Kyle Coetzer (19) added 46 runs for the second-wicket stand to put the match in the balance, before Coetzer left a delivery from Kabir Ali, losing his off-stump.

After making 62 in the first innings, the wicket of Matthew Spriegel was seen as a key breakthrough for the visitors and when he was caught at second slip by Andrea Agathangelou there was an especially elated edge to the Lancashire celebrations.

Anderson returned with Northamptonshire's confidence somewhat dented at 76-3 and when Rob Newton and Andrew Hall were both removed for no score, the match was certainly in Lancashire's grasp.

After losing three wickets for two runs the hosts were on the verge of a disappointing collapse, but the efforts of Middlebrook and Duckett (24*) ensured that Northants would go in to the final day with, arguably, the greatest cause to win the match.

People often refer to the first hour as a crucial time to judge which way a match is likely to go and if Northants can make a promising start early on tomorrow, against the likes of Glen Chapple and Anderson, then they will be well on their way to victory.

Lancashire, meanwhile, will be desperate for a couple of early breakthroughs to unsettle the hosts, as the latter stages of the day once again provided friendly conditions for the batsmen with Middlebrook and Duckett taking full advantage.

Photos from Sussex Vs Somerset LVCC day two.