Vasconcelos knows Northants will have to be 'relentless' to fully profit from a 'perfect day'

Northants go into the final day of their Rothesay County Championship clash against the Red Rose in a dominant position, with the home side 24 for two needing another 422 runs to win.

Saturday went like a dream for Darren Lehmann's side.

Firstly, Lancashire lost eight wickets in the morning session to be bowled out for 137 in the reply to the County's 284 with Ben Sanderson taking four for 39 and Liam Guthrie three for 51.

Vasconcelos then led the way with a brilliant century - his fourth of the summer - as Northants piled up 298 for four declared in just 64 overs, with Saif Zaib hitting 55 not out from 45 balls and Luke Procter 46.

That was a lead of 445, and Lancashire then lost both openers and key batters Marcus Harris and Keaton Jennings before the close, to leave the visitors in prime position to secure a first four-day win at Old Trafford for 27 years!

“I think if we’d been asked what our perfect day would have been, that was pretty much it," Vasconcelos told BBC Northampton.

"But it will mean nothing if we don’t go and finish off the job on Sunday.

"We know we’ve got a lot of hard work to do to still get over the line.

"We are going to have to be ruthless and relentless all day, and then take our chances when they come.

"We came pretty close to winning here last year, so hopefully we can come out on the right side of it this time."

Reflecting on his team's brilliant bowling performance in the morning session, Vasconcelos said: “We knew there was plenty in the pitch if you landed the ball in the right areas, and it is hard to score when you bowl well.

"We knew we could hold the scoreboard and keep them going at two an over, and we knew our rewards would come.

“We didn’t expect the rewards to come so quickly, but we bowled excellently and big credit to everyone really.

"It has been a team effort so far, and it is going to need a team effort on Sunday."

Sanderson produced his standard excellent performance with the ball, but he was backed up brilliantly by left-armer Guthrie, and Vasconcelos said: "Liam bowled really well.

"I think he was a bit unlucky as he had a couple dropped off his bowling.

"He has bowled excellently all game, and he is going to be quite difficult to play on that with his skiddy action, so he will play a big part for us."

When he got bat in hand, Vasconcelos was in great form before being dismissed for exactly 100 from 131 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six.

His first 50 had come off just 48 balls, and on that flying start he said: "I felt good, but it is all about what the team needs at the time.

"What we needed to do to set up the game was score some runs quite quickly to give us enough time to bowl them out.

“So all it meant was trying to play with the team in mind, and be ruthless on anything slightly off line or length."

The hundred was a 13th for Northants in first-class cricket for the South African-born left-hander, joining the likes of David Capel, Ben Duckett and Roy Virgin on that number.

Vasconcelos admitted he is proud to have added his name to that list, but is confident he won't be stopping there.

"Hopefully there are still quite a few to come," said the 28-year-old.

"If I had played to my ability in the past few years I would maybe have had a few more, but it is what it is.

"There are some great names (to have made 13 centuries) so it is nothing to turn my nose up at, and I am very happy with that.

"I am going to try and stay in the moment and take it game by game.

"But I am feeling very good so I am hopefully going to score some more runs."