STEPHEN Moore fired Worcester-shire into a first innings lead at Northamptonshire with his second century of the season.

The County opener, who hit an unbeaten 109 at Warwickshire in the first game of the campaign, fired another 109 before David Lucas had him caught by Stephen Peters at the end of the day as the New Road side built up a lead of 48.

The bowlers did their job is skittling out the Wantage Road side for 168 with Australian seamer Steve Magoffin taking 4-49.

The 28-year-old was well backed up by new ball partner Kabir Ali claiming 3-44, while Gareth Batty took 2-27 and Chris Whelan claimed the other wicket.

It was a good start to the second day of the championship match as the bowler ripped through the Northants batting.

The hosts resumed day two on 33-1 but were soon lost three wickets without adding to their overnight night score.

At lunch Northants were 131-7 and it didn't take long for the rest of the innings to be wrapped up and Magoffin is hoping that the County can pick up their first win of the season after two rain affected draws.

"To take nine wickets in a session and a bit has certainly put a result in this match on the cards," said Magoffin, who now has nine Cham-pionship wickets at 27.33 apiece.

"With the rain that we had on the first day it meant that there was still plenty of moisture in the wicket and it has kept it interesting.

"I have worked on a few things since the first match up at Edgbaston and I have been fairly pleased with the way I have been bowling. The ball is coming out well and the conditions are in the bowlers' favour at the moment."

Northants resumed the day on 33-1 after Kabir took the only wicket on the opening day and the hosts quickly lost three more wickets without adding to their over-night score.

David Sales put up some resistance before Magoffin had him caught behind by Steven Davies, who claimed six catches in the Northants innings, for a dogged 50.

The County made light work of knocking of the Northants total.

Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore put on 81 for the first wicket, before Mitchell went for 36.

Moore finished the day with his second unbeaten hundred of the season, while skipper Vikram Solanki hit a fine 64.

Despite heavy rain this week, the County have no plans to move Monday's Friends Provident Trophy match against Glamorgan Dragons to Kidderminster. The County will keep an eye on the weather, but they want the game to stay at New Road on Bank Holiday Monday.