Hogg decimates Northants as wickets tumble at Old Trafford

After skittling Essex for a record-low 20 at Chelmsford, Red Rose duo Hogg and Glen Chapple bowled all 29.5 overs as they ripped through Northants on day one of their clash.

The visitors hit back as the wickets continued to tumble, with Lancashire reduced to 121-8 in reply when bad light forced play to be abandoned with 15.3 overs left in the day.

Nevertheless, it was another day to remember for the hosts, with skipper Chapple, who last week took five wickets for just nine runs, beginning the rout after putting Northants in as he had Kyle Coetzer caught by Andrea Agathangelou at second slip off just the fourth ball of the day.

Hogg claimed his first in the next over as he trapped David Sales lbw and he repeated the trick to dismiss Alex Wakely to leave Northants nine for three.

Rob Keogh was next to go as he edged Hogg to wicketkeeper Gareth Cross before James Middlebrook was bowled by Chapple.

Hogg then claimed his fourth before lunch when Andrew Hall was given out lbw for 10 to reduce the visitors to 40-6 at the interval.

The 29-year-old seamer was quickly back in the action as David Willey edged him to Tom Smith at slip and he then bowled former Lancashire team-mate Steven Crook for an innings best 16.

Chapple then wrapped up the innings as Ashwell Prince took a catch in the slips to dismiss Graeme White for a duck before the Lancashire captain sent Mohammad Azharullah’s middle stump flying.

The home side, however, were soon in trouble in their reply, with Luke Procter bowled by Pakistan-born Azharullah in the second over and former South African Test batsman Prince lbw to Willey in the ninth.

Willey then bowled Luis Reece for 16 before Simon Katich and Agathangelou put on 44 - the highest partnership of the day - to steady the ship and take the hosts to 85-3.

But when Hall broke the stand by bowling Cypriot Agathangelou for 21 it began a collapse which saw five wickets fall for 16 runs.

Katich was well caught by wicketkeeper David Murphy off Azharullah for 30, Cross went lbw to a full ball from Crook before an inside edge by Hogg off Hall’s bowling was caught behind.

Chapple’s leading edge was then easily taken by Coetzer at point as the home side slumped to 101-8.

Stephen Parry and Smith extended Lancashire’s lead to 59 before play was abandoned for the day.