MIN PATEL bagged two quick wickets after the lunch resumption to reduce Northamptonshire to 177 for five in their unlikely pursuit of a 410-run victory target.

Playing his first championship match since September 2002, Patel sent back Usman Afzaal (11) to a bat-pad catch at silly point by Matthew Walker.

Ten overs later, Patel accounted for home skipper David Sales (12) when he padded away a quicker arm-ball to go leg before.

Martin van Jaarsveld batted on throughout however, hitting a straight six off James Tredwell to move to an unbeaten 82.