By Jon Steer
June 17 2005

Not content with winning the toss and scoring a vital 80 runs, Dale Benkentein brough the Northants innings to a close with four wickets in less than eight overs. Six different bowlers had success for Durham as Northants were all out for 214 at lunch on day three. Noffke and Benkenstein managed a wicket each after tea on day two as Northants finished the day on 98/2 with Noffke's Queensland teammate and ex-Durham batsmen Martin Love looking dangerous.

Noffke and Davies opened the bowling this morning and had success almost immediately when Mark Davies had Love trapped lbw for 49. Noffke then had Afzaal caught behind before Davies took his second of the morning when Wessels was out lbw and Northants were wobbling on 121-5.

Sales and Wright steadied the innings and were on the verge of reaching a 50 partnership when Mark Turner had Wright out lbw to claim his second championship wicket.

Ben Phillips came to the wicket with the score on 170-6 and him and Sales were looking in a positive mood as the boundaries continued to flow. Phillips had scored 24 in 27 balls - all from fours when he was bowled by Benkenstein and Northants were looking in trouble at 210-7. Next ball Benkenstein had Louw caught behind.

In the next over Benkenstein caught Pieterson off the bowling of Breese and then returned to end the innings with the wicket of Brown. Nothants had slipped from 170/5 to 214 all out.