Capel's 175 cheers leaders

Round-up

Northamptonshire's fine run at the top of the County Championship continued yesterday thanks to David Capel who hit a career-best 175 against Leicestershire at Northampton. The all-rounder hit two sixes and 27 fours in his 375- minute stay, taking his side to 564.

Leicestershire then slipped to 48 for 3 in reply but were rescued by a 137-run stand between Nigel Briers (68) and Ben Smith (80no) which lifted the visitors to 185 for 4 - still 379 behind.

Capel, whose previous top score was 167 against Kent earlier this season, added 72 for the seventh wicket with Neil Mallender and 64 with Mal Loye who, forced to retire hurt in the sixth over of the match with a damaged wrist, came back to smash an unbeaten 51 off just 49 balls.

Yorkshire restored some pride they lost on Thursday with an unbroken opening stand of 115 by Martyn Moxon and Michael Vaughan after Warwickshire established a first-innings lead of 353 at Edgbaston.