Exciting final day in store as Buck shines with bat and ball to keep Northants in the hunt

The visitors will go into Tuesday's final day at Wantage Road leading by 184 runs with four wickets intact, as they reached the close of day three on 177 for six.

But the fact that Northants are still in the game is largely down to Buck, who twice dragged the match back into his side's favour when it looked as though Worcestershire were going to take control.

First Buck did the Monday morning business with the bat, hitting 32 from 41 balls to help rescue Northants from a precarious 100 for seven in reply to Worcester's 219 all out.

Gareth Berg also performed well, top-scoring with 45, as the Northants tail wagged before the team were bowled out for 212, just seven runs behind.

Worcester then looked to be heading towards building an unassailable lead as they eased to 137 for two in their second dig, before a Saif Zaib breakthrough and two quick wickets from that man Buck - including the snaring of first innings danger man Riki Wessels - reduced them to 148 for five.

Worcester had lost three wickets for 11 runs in 19 balls to put the brakes on their charge, and with Zaib grabbing a second wicket before the close, it means this exciting match is evenly poised going into the fourth day.

For Worcester, opener Tom Fell is still there on 84 not out, which is his highest first-class score, and he will have his sights set on completing a first century and helping his team build a match-winning lead.

But if Northants can wrap up the innings quickly in the morning, and keep the lead down to around the 200 mark, they will fancy their chances of securing a first win of this truncated season.

If they are to do that, then they are going to have to perform better than they did in the first innings.

Resuming on 90 for four, the County quickly lost overnight pair Charlie Thurston for 21 and Zaib for 23, with skipper Adam Rossington going for just four and they looked in dire straits at 100 for seven.

Step forward Berg and Buck to bring their team back into the game, which could now provide a thrilling finale on the last day, which Bucks believes is on 'a knife edge'.

“I think the game is on a knife edge and it’s anyone's game to win," said Buck. "I thought the wicket didn’t flatten out but did get better.

“Tom Fell played very well for them and batted a lot of time but it’s hard to start on this pitch.

“I felt if I tried to play straight I was a sitting duck so I took some calculated risks and luckily it came off.

"It’s worked quite a few times for me and when I showed some intent it put the pressure back onto them."

He was also pleased with his efforts with the ball, so far claiming three for 30 to add to the three for 67 he took in the first innings.

“I’ve loved taking the new ball and having that responsibility," said Buck.

"I’ve been more consistent this year and given Adam Rossington some control."