Having won the toss and elected to bowl first, Ben Sanderson struck the first blow on an overcast morning at New Road by trapping Dan Lategan lbw just two balls in.

That became 20-2 as Procter clattered Rehaan Edavalath’s off-stump with his first ball.

Libby and Hose then dug in until lunch on 56-2. But the Pears vice-captain’s fourth County Championship Division Two half-century of 2026 was ended by Procter.

Home skipper Brett D’Oliveira was handed a lifeline, put down at second slip, only to be snared at third slip by Procter in his next over.

Unperturbed by an injury to wicketkeeper Lewis McManus, Vasconcelos took the gloves and, shortly after play resumed, spinner Calvin Harrison claimed the key wicket of Hose, who found the slip cordon.

Australian seamer Conway then struck after tea when he nipped one back through the gate to bowl Matthew Waite before Procter returned to castle Tom Taylor with a hooping inswinger.

Conway bounced out Ben Allison, before Procter completed his first five-fer of the season with the wicket of Usama Mir.

Cullen and last man Adam Finch (5*) then rallied with a last-wicket stand of 50. And, although Northants went off after one over for bad light, a lively exchange between home skipper D’Oliveira and umpires Neil Pratt and James Tredwell brought them back out in perfect light for a further seven overs, to the wincing Procter’s private cost.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.