Third century in four innings for Loye as Northants build lead

Mal Loye powered his way to a third Championship century in four knocks at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire moved ahead in their Division One contest with Somerset.

The 28-year-old, who averaged 52 coming into this game, demonstrated his full range of attacking shots once again in a superb unbeaten 194 as Northants closed on 358-5 - a lead of 59 with two days to go.

It was also Loye's 16th hundred for Northants - putting him ahead of Vallance Jupp, Mick Norman and David Capel in the club's all-time list - and his second against Somerset.

Resuming on 28-1, Northants lost Paul Taylor after an hour's play when the nightwatchman drove Steffan Jones tamely to mid-off. Jones then struck again six overs later, beating Jeff Cook for pace and shattering his stumps to leave the hosts on 101-3.

But Russell Warren dug in with Loye, and the pair made smooth progress either side of lunch. Loye should have gone for 67 when he skied Keith Dutch to long-on, but Richard Johnson failed to hold the chance and Somerset had to wait another 39 overs for their next breakthrough.

The fourth-wicket stand was worth 160 when Warren fell to Jones for a workmanlike 64, an innings lasting just short of three hours and featuring nine boundaries.

Partnered by Alec Swann, Loye took Northants into the lead in the 87th over and the pair added 84 before Swann holed out off Dutch just before the close. Loye had then hit three sixes and 25 fours in his 320-ball knock - with power to add.

After seeing his side spend a long day in the field, Somerset cach Kevin Shine said: "It was a tough day for the boys out there but they stuck to it very well and all our bowlers performed well. The wicket f;lattened out as the day went on which we didn't expect."