Advantage Northants in race for promotion as they gear up for crucial Derbyshire date

The County will go into the final two matches of the season in second place behind runaway leaders Durham and, crucially, two points clear of third-placed Kent.

The south east County were 15 balls away from claiming a draw at Derbyshire on Friday, a result that would have seen them go six points clear in second, but Brent Randell's late dismissal of Hasan Mahmud saw Kent dismissed for 252 and condemned them to an agonising defeat.

Mahmud gloving a short delivery straight up in the air brought to an end a battling rearguard action that had seen Kent recover from 38 for five and bat out 95.3 of the scheduled 98 overs, only to ultimately come up short.

The loss meant they claimed just three bonus points, and with Northants beating Worcestershire by six wickets on Thursday, it is Darren Lehmann's side that now holds the narrowest of advantages in the race for a top-two finish.

Northants' destiny is in their own hands as they gear up for their final two matches of 2026, starting with a home date against fifth-placed Derbyshire at the cinch County Ground on Tuesday.

They then finish the campaign with a trip to Lord's to play Middlesex on September 24.

If the County can claim two wins with maximum bonus points then they will be promoted regardless of what Kent do, and that is a situation that delights Lehmann.

"It's fantastic isn't it? Last year we went the other way where we wanted to play all of our young kids because we had no chance," the head coach told BBC Northampton.

"This year it is about picking the best side you possibly can.

"We have got some injury concerns but we will work our way through them, and it is great to have the chance to just play well in another game and another week that is really important."

The biggest injury issue concerns wicket-keeper Lewis McManus, who dislocated a finger in the first innings against Worcestershire.

He was able to bat but couldn't keep wicket, with Stuart van der Merwe standing in, but Lehmann is keeping everything crossed he will be fully fit to take on Derbyshire.

"Lewis will be okay, we just have to get the swelling down," said the Australian.

"He had an external blow, and it was just about not risking him on Thursday.

"I thought Stuey did a great job, considering he got 10 wickets as an off-spinner last week! He did a fantastic job keeping for us.

"We will have to make some calls on players, but we will give them a couple of days off to get some rest and get recovered, and then we will make a call on the team on Monday."