David Sales and Rob White hit unbeaten half-centuries for Northamptonshire on a rain-affected third day at Grace Road which left their LV County Championship clash with Leicestershire likely to end in a draw.

Only 37.4 overs were possible before the rain set in half an hour after lunch with Northants on 276 for three, still 251 runs behind Leicestershire's first-innings total of 527.

Leicestershire had briefly threatened to have the visitors struggling when they took two wickets in four balls. But Sales and White pulled Northants out of trouble with a partnership of 119 in 33 overs.

The visitors resumed the third day on their overnight 144 for one and lost two early wickets. Riki Wessels, having been dropped at second slip off the bowling of Dillon du Preez on 28, failed to capitalise on his good fortune and five runs later edged a lifting delivery from Nadeem Malik to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon.

In the next over from Du Preez, Niall O'Brien, having added just two runs to his overnight 76, was also caught by Nixon as he aimed an expansive drive at a wide delivery outside off stump which found the edge.

That left Northants at 157 for three and gave the home side a glimmer of hope that they could bowl them out for less than the 378 needed to avoid the follow-on.

But Sales and White took charge and some loose bowling by the home attack saw a flurry of runs with both batsmen helping themselves to a succession of boundaries.

Sales hit one superb six off Claude Henderson but it was White who reached his 50 first off 84 balls with nine fours.

Sales struck another six off the spin of Henderson and also reached his half-century after lunch off 96 balls with six more boundaries in addition to the two sixes.

But with both batsmen in full flow and with 136 runs added in 37.4 overs the rain began to fall half an hour after the lunch interval.

It continued steadily throughout the afternoon and although there was a brief respite after tea, an inspection by the umpires at 5.30pm led to the abandonment of play for the day with Northants at 276 for three.