Middlesex will enter the final day against Northamptonshire with a chance of finally claiming their first LV County Championship Division Two win of the season.

The visitors closed on 225 for seven today at Lord's and will start with a lead of 153 runs and three second-innings wickets remaining.

Riki Wessels retained his side's interest in proceedings with a determined 57, although we was dropped on 17 by Owais Shah at first slip off the bowling of Murali Kartik.

The visitors were just seven runs ahead at that stage having already lost half of their second-innings wickets but Wessels' determined approach was supported by Andrew Hall as the pair put on 82 for the sixth wicket.

Northamptonshire had capitulated rapidly after trailing by 72 on first innings losing three wickets before erasing the deficit - and when two more wickets fell in quick succession they were facing possible defeat inside three days.

Tim Murtagh removed Ben Howgego and Rob White, and when Stephen Peters was pinned in the crease for 25 by a ball from Steve Finn, the visitors were in deep trouble having declined to 37 for three.

Alex Wakely was joined by Wessels in a 38-run stand but, having just moved into credit, the introduction of Shaun Udal into the attack found immediate reward.

With his third delivery, the off-spinner took a fine diving return catch to remove Wakely for 24 and in his next over he had Nicky Boje snapped up by Sam Robson at bat/pad for two.

With the innings in desperate need of first aid, Wessels and Hall structured a lifeline with the former reaching a half-century having faced 96 balls until, but he then picked out Dawid Malan at deep square leg to give Murtagh his third wicket.

Hall's assured approach took him to within three runs of a half-century before Alan Richardson found an inside edge to have the all-rounder caught by wicketkeeper Ben Scott to end a 50-run partnership with Johan van der Wath who then continued the revival with an unbeaten 40 by the close.

The visitors had taken just an hour of the morning session to capture the remaining four Middlesex wickets although the additional 50 runs accumulated by the hosts earned them a useful 72-run lead on first innings.

Udal fell to the 10th delivery of the day when he was yorked Hall with just six runs added the overnight score but the arrival of the second new ball accounted for the tail in less than eight overs.

Van der Wath claimed two of the last three victims to finish with figures of four for 107.