COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, Division Two, Wantage Road, day two (close):
Northants 304 v Essex 18-0
The halfway point of the match at Wantage Road was reached with Essex 286 runs behind Northants at 18-0.
Both teams need a victory in a late bid to snatch promotion, but neither holds the advantage with just two days left.
Following the first day washout, the start of day two was delayed and 104 overs had been lost by the time Northants chose to bat first.
David Sales top-scored with two sixes in his 59, while Graham Napier took two wickets in two balls for the visitors.
Sales hit Ravi Bopara back over his head for six but the England all-rounder collected some useful wickets.
Napier trapped Riki Wessels and sent Lance Klusener back to the pavilion for a golden duck, Jason Gallian taking a diving catch in the slips.
Northants skipper Nicky Boje survived the hat-trick ball and made a blistering 37 off 28 balls before holing out to Essex skipper Mark Pettini to give Bopara his third wicket.
Sales was run-out by Chris Wright following a mix-up with Johan van der Wath after tea, before Essex's new opening partnership of Jason Gallian and John Maunders saw out the remaining 14 overs in gritty fashion.
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