GARETH Batty completed the first 10-wicket haul of his career to take Worcestershire to the brink of victory in their Frizzell County Championship Division One clash at Northamptonshire.

The Yorkshire-born off-spinner, hoping to gain further international recognition before the summer is over, followed his 7-52 in the first innings with 3-61 in the second for match figures of 10-113, helping to dismiss the home side for 264.

That left the visitors requiring 150 to secure their second championship win of the season, and they closed on 97-1 -- just 53 runs short, going into the final day.

Needing early wickets to put Northants, who resumed still 52 adrift with nine wickets standing, under serious pressure, Worcestershire broke through with the sixth ball of the morning when Matt Mason trapped Tim Roberts lbw pushing half-forward.

Batty then claimed the key wicket of Martin van Jaarsveld, who edged behind to Steve Rhodes, and the hosts also lost skipper David Sales and Graeme Swann before lunch. Sales drove Kabir Ali's gentle loosener to extra cover while Swann was equally careless, hooking Kabir to long leg where Stephen Moore held the straightforward catch.

Usman Afzaal eventually found a reliable partner in Gerard Brophy (25), and the pair added 52 in 22 overs to keep Northants afloat. But Shaftab Khalid's patience was rewarded as Brophy pushed to silly point with the hosts only 93 ahead, and the introduction of Vikram Solanki's off-spin paid dividends with Afzaal -- who faced 176 balls -- clean bowled missing an attempted drive.

Solanki duly celebrated his first championship wicket for four years and Afzaal's departure opened the way for Andy Bichel to attack the tail-enders.

The Australian removed both Johann Louw and Ben Phillips with the aid of Solanki at first slip, and Batty fittingly tidied up with the wicket of Jason Brown.

His was the first 10-wicket return by a Worcestershire spinner since Richard Illingworth achieved the feat against Hampshire at Southampton in September 1997.

With the pitch offering increasing help to the spinners, Northants were not about to give up hope of snatching a win themselves.

Phillips soon accounted for Stephen Peters with 20 on the board, and Moore should have gone soon afterwards -- Brophy fluffing a stumping chance off Swann.

He was still there on 47 at the close, having posted an unbroken 63 for the second wicket with Graeme Hick unbeaten on 32.