Tim Groenewald bagged his second six-wicket haul in less than two weeks and then scored an unbeaten 45 to lead a Derbyshire batting recovery which left the LV County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire at Chesterfield in the balance.

The Derbyshire paceman took six for 61, including a spell of four for nine in 23 balls, as Northamptonshire lost their last five wickets for 22 runs in 47 balls to be bowled out for 246.

That earned Derbyshire a lead of nine but they also collapsed on a pitch which assisted the seamers before an eighth-wicket stand of 63 in 11 overs between Groenewald and Steffan Jones carried Derbyshire to 212 for eight at the close, 221 in front.

Northamptonshire looked like claiming a first-innings advantage despite a rain-shortened morning session that saw Greg Smith have David Lucas caught behind for 14 and Riki Wessels taken at second slip for three in the space of seven balls.

But a stand of 54 between Alex Wakely and Andrew Hall raised the visitors' hopes of a lead until Groenewald blew away the lower order after lunch.

Hall started the slide by edging a loose drive to second slip when he had scored 36 and Wakely fell to an ugly chop at Wavell Hinds after grinding out 26 in 31 overs.

Johan Van der Wath drove Groenewald low to cover and Graeme White lost his middle and leg stumps to an inswinging yorker first ball.

Groenewald wasted the hat-trick ball but he struck with the first ball of his next over when David Willey miscued a drive to mid-off.

Derbyshire's hopes of building on that slender lead were quickly dented by Van der Wath and Lucas, who got the ball to move off the seam.

Wayne Madsen edged Van der Wath to second slip with only six on the board and the South African had Gary Park caught behind for three in the seventh over.

When skipper Chris Rogers edged a big drive at Lucas into his stumps and Greg Smith got an inside edge to the wicketkeeper, Derbyshire were 53 for four and in danger of sliding to a two-day defeat.

Dan Redfearn survived a low, hard return catch to Jack Brooks on three but Hinds responded to the crisis with some punishing strokes.

He drove three consecutive fours off Brooks and pulled the pace bowler for six but another attacking shot cost the Jamaican his wicket.

Hinds had moved to 36 when he tried to hit Hall over the top but only skyed to mid-off and, when Jamie Pipe drove a catch back to Van der Wath, Derbyshire were 102 for six.

But Redfearn and Groenewald added 38 and then Steffan Jones joined Groenewald to punish a tiring attack in evening sunshine before another sharp slip catch by Hall removed Jones.