LANCASHIRE remain top of the LV= County Championship second division after having to settle for a draw at Northamptonshire.

Strong 40-45 mph winds at Wantage Road may prove to be the abiding memory as the match drifted into a stalemate on the final day.

The home side lost just three wickets on the final day to finish on 391-5 in their second innings, thanks to hundreds for Rob Keogh and Steven Crook and 81 for Stephen Peters.

Resuming on 42-2, Northamptonshire hoped to end a streak of four straight defeats to their Red Rose opponents with whom they were relegated from Division One last season. Peters and Keogh, who were joined together at 13-2 on Tuesday night, showed the necessary caution and solid defence required, with Lancashire’s attack keen on a third win of three.

Lancashire skipper Steven Croft was satisfied to get through the game.

“It was always going to be hard to force a result, especially losing time out of the game,” he said.

“It was a good wicket. They posted a decent score (385 in the first innings), and we did really well to get past them from the situation we were in.

“Especially early season when you think we’d lose a few sessions to rain, we’re happy. I think we’re in a great spot. Hopefully we can stay up there.”

On the final day, the home side’s Peters brought up his 14,000 career first-class run on the way to a third successive 50 in Championship cricket before hooking Jordan Clark to Simon Kerrigan for 81 half an hour before lunch.

Keogh reached three figures but hooked Jordan Clark to Tom Bailey at long leg without adding to his score.

Steven Crook knocked a bristling 50 off 48 balls and by the time Alviro Petersen’s medium pace was called on late in the day, he got to three figures with a push into the covers, taking 90 balls to do so as the game petered out.

Lancashire are clear at the top of the table with 57 points from their opening three matches, 15 points more than their nearest rivals Northamptonshire.

The Red Rose return to action on Sunday when they welcome Glamorgan to Old Trafford.