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.