Northants keep pace in promotion race after easing past Leicestershire

After Lancashire secured a return to Division One, just two places back in the top flight remain and Northamptonshire are among a cluster of sides bidding to join them

Grace Road: (fourth day of four): Leicestershire 308 & 189, Northamptonshire 357 & 142-3 - Northamptonshire won by seven wickets

Scorecard

Northamptonshire moved into second place in Division Two after completing a seven-wicket victory over Leicestershire in the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground.

Beginning the day on 22 for 0, with a target of just 141 to win, openers Ben Curran and Rob Newton extended their partnership to 68 before Newton went leg before to an Alex Evans delivery that came back into the right-hander.

Curran, on 40, edged a flat-footed drive at Will Davis to Colin Ackermann at second slip, and Ackermann picked up a second catch when first-innings centurion Rob Keogh edged a drive at left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson.

The odd ball was beginning to turn for Parkinson, but by that stage Alex Wakely was well established, and the visitors former skipper saw his side across the line with an unbeaten 40.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network