Mal Loye underlined his liking for Lancashire's bowlers with a brilliant 177 as Northamptonshire made the most of winning an important toss in their Division One contest at Wantage Road.

It was Loye's third century in four seasons off the Lancashire attack, and boosted the home side to 365-6 from 116 overs at the close after John Crawley called incorrectly to give the home side first use of ideal batting conditions.

Loye cracked two sixes – both off Muthiah Muralitharan before lunch – and 22 fours in his six-hour stay, and provided the perfect platform in partnership with Australian Mike Hussey (70). The pair posted 159 for the first wicket in 38 overs until Hussey edged Murali behind with lunch beckoning.

Lancashire's seamers were disappointing in the first session but Peter Martin turned in an outstanding post-lunch spell of 2-24 from 13 overs to bring the visitors back into contention.

He dismissed Jeff Cook (23) and Russell Warren (0), while Murali accounted for Alec Swann cheaply as 248-1 became 257-4 in the space of nine overs.

But Loye and vice-captain Tony Penberthy (31) steadied the innings by adding 57 either side of tea, and Loye's 318-ball knock lasted until half-an-hour before the close when a tired-looking stroke saw him play on to the persevering Martin.

Graeme Swann and skipper Ripley batted out the day, and Northants' first target will be scoring another 35 in 14 overs to secure the maximum five batting points.

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