JOE Leach's third five-wicket haul of the season and 81 from Brett D'Oliveira put Worcestershire in complete control on the second day against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The visitors, having taken a first-innings advantage of 129, closed on 181-4 in their second knock for a lead of 310 in County Championship Division Two.

Leach added two more wickets to his three on the first evening to help bundle Northants out for just 148.

D'Oliveira then led the County into a commanding lead as a century opening partnership with skipper Daryl Mitchell saw them seize the game.

The duo survived the odd play-and-miss but they demoralised Northants, who were left facing a second defeat of the season with two days to go on a dry wicket.

The County used sunnier afternoon weather to build their lead, first between D'Oliveira and Mitchell, who fell lbw to Seekkuge Prasanna for 47, and for the second wicket with Tom Fell (36 not out).

The Worcester-born opener was composed and clever, scampering keenly between the wickets and tucking Prasanna finely past short square leg for a 50 in 92 balls with three boundaries.

D'Oliveira lifted Rob Keogh down the ground for four over long-on but then fired a ball down the leg side and David Murphy completed a smart stumping 19 short of a third century of the year.

Keogh struck again next ball, bowling Joe Clarke, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore survived the hat-trick only to be trapped lbw by Prasanna for a 13-ball duck.

The day began overcast with Northants on 64-3 and the hosts' hopes of getting back into the game pinned on Richard Levi and Adam Rossington.

But Levi never settled having resumed on 11 not out and, after adding 16, pulled Matt Henry straight into the air off a top edge and was caught for 27 by wicketkeeper Ben Cox running towards square leg.

Henry then produced a fine away swinger to draw an edge from Rossington (55) and Cox dived to his right for a smart catch in the penultimate over before lunch.

Another Henry away swinger saw Prasanna (4) taken at second slip in the first over after lunch.

D'Oliveira helped clean up the tail, trapping Azharullah (7) and Ben Sanderson (4) lbw with consecutive balls across two overs.

Murphy was the last man out when held at point to hand Leach, who earlier had Steven Crook caught at second slip, 5-70 and 36 wickets in the Championship.