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James Middlebrook and David Willey scored half-centuries to bolster Northants on day two of their Division Two match against Hampshire.

The visitors resumed on 170-5 and that soon became 172-6 when David Balcombe (3-58) got rid of Rob Newton (48).

But Middlebrook (65) and Willey (54), aided by David Murphy's 43, pushed Northants to 356 all out.

Hampshire closed 231 runs behind on 125-2 with Neil McKenzie making 31 and Jimmy Adams 48 not out.