NORTHANTS lost three more wickets in stretching their lead past the 100 mark in the Frizzell County Championship match against Worcestershire at Northampton.

From their overnight 81-1, the home side moved on to 184-4 just before lunch. Left-arm spinner Ray Price took two more wickets to go with the one he captured last night.

Yesterday, Steven Davies hit his highest first class score for Worcestershire.

Davies, an England Under 19 international, fell just five short of a deserved maiden century when he was bowled by the left-arm spin of Monty Panesar.

Resuming on 74-2, Davies and Ben Smith quickly brought up three figures and looked set to dominate the day as the youngster passed 50.

But Johann Louw had other ideas when he made the breakthrough with the score on 133 as Smith edged to Martin Love at first slip.

England one-day international and Worcester skipper Vikram Solanki joined Davies and the pair had added 68 for the fourth wicket to take the visitors past 200 when Panesar bowled Davies for an impressive 95 that included 13 fours and a six.

South African Zander de Bruyn came in at six and moved to 10 before he was run out after a mix-up with Solanki.

Fellow England international and vice-captain Gareth Batty was more assured and added 61 for the sixth wicket with his skipper.

Solanki, on 80, nibbled at Louw and Love held on to the catch.

Batty took Worcestershire past Northamptonshire's 299 and was two short of his 50 when Australian Damien Wright had him caught by Louw.

Worcestershire led by 82 runs after first innings.