Northants edge towards parity

Stephen Peters hit a half-century as Northamptonshire edged themselves towards Yorkshire's first-innings total on a rain-affected second day.

Opener Peters was unbeaten at the close on 74 off 158 balls with Northamptonshire 175 for three - 74 runs behind the visitors - before the weather brought about an early finish.

Rob Newton supported with a breezy 40 not out off 61 deliveries as Yorkshire's bowlers struggled with Azeem Rafiq, Richard Pyrah and Adil Rashid taking the three wickets that fell.

Northamptonshire began their first innings at the start of the day having bowled Yorkshire out for 249.

After making a steady start, Scotland international Kyle Coetzer fell cheaply on 31 when he loosely cut Rafiq to former Australia batsman Phil Jaques at backward point.

This broke an opening partnership of 66 with Peters but new batsman David Sales was to make just 11 before he edged Pyrah to Adam Lyth at second slip in the penultimate over before lunch.

The hosts resumed in the afternoon on 90 for two but they lost Alex Wakely for 12 when Rashid was brought into the attack in the 40th over as he was taken at second slip by Jaques.

In the following over, bowled by Steven Patterson, rain forced the players off - leading to a 50-minute delay and the loss of six overs.

Shortly after they had taken to the field again, the heavens opened - leaving everyone running for cover once more.

After five lost overs and 15 minutes, play finally resumed with Peters completing a patient half-century off 115 balls.

Yorkshire thought they had dismissed Newton for nine but the umpires ruled he had not touched Pyrah's delivery before wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow took the catch.

Tea was now due at 4.30pm, but another downpour meant the players were off again a few minutes early with the hosts on 175 for three midway through the 58th over - Joe Root's first of the innings.

Peters had taken his partnership with Newton to 69 with their side just 74 runs behind Yorkshire as rain beat down at the heaviest it had been all day.

This time it would not relent as umpires Jeffrey Evans and Neil Mallender decided to bring an early close to proceedings at 5.10pm.

It meant 38 overs in total had been lost during the day and it also frustrated Northamptonshire's attempts to further eat into Yorkshire's total.