Matthew Wood, searching for his third consecutive 'ton', soon completed his half-century at Wantage Road today as Yorkshire strengthened their grip over Northamptonshire on the second day of the Championship match.

Wood, and his second wicket partner Michael Lumb, dashed Yorkshire on to 84 for one in reply to Northamptonshire's first innings score of 253.

Scott Richardson was the wicket to go down last night, bowled by Michael Strong for six, and Yorkshire were eager to make progress when they resumed on 45 for one.

Wood, 31 overnight, and Lumb, eight, resumed with Yorkshire on 45 for one and both looked at ease until Wood (38) hooked at left-arm paceman Paul Taylor and was dropped at long leg by Strong.

It was a bad miss for Northants and Wood celebrated in the following over with two cover drives for four and three against spinner Jason Brown to take him to his 50 off 72 balls with seven cleanly struck boundaries.

Lumb, also a century-maker in the last match against Leicestershire, showed similar strengths to Wood in the cover region and he found the fence again to move into the 20s.

But with Yorkshire on 86, he was stumped by David Ripley off the bowling of Brown for 25.

After choosing to play two off-spinners and disregarding Matthew Hoggard, who had been released by England, Yorkshire looked as if they had got it badly wrong for a while yesterday as Northants reached 138 for one at lunch with slow bowlers Richard Dawson and Andy Gray both being severely punished by Mal Loye.

But Yorkshire hit back hard after the interval and Northants went to pieces after Loye had been dismissed by Ryan Sidebottom for 50 and Darren Lehmann had got rid of fellow Australian Michael Hussey for 64.

Dawson recovered his poise to take a couple of wickets and pace sensation Steven Kirby wrapped things up by grabbing the last three wickets in the space of 18 balls at a cost of just four runs.

Hoggard this morning was summoned back to Edgbaston as cover for Darren Gough, who had an upset stomach overnight, but once Gough reported fit for Hoggard headed home again.

Updated: 12:46 Thursday, July 05, 2001