For the first time in three matches,
Northants had a platform for the end of the innings.
Northants captain Alex Wakely, meanwhile, said:" I thought it was a very poor pitch and very difficult for the bowlers to take wickets.
But just when
Northants had built some momentum, Willey bowled an extraordinary triplewicket maiden in the 19th over.
Northants' captain Alex Wakely admitted: "We were a bit sloppy in the field, a few chances went down and a few too many runs were scored at the end of the innings to give them a good score on a slow pitch."
Levi and Keogh saw
Northants through to lunch with Levi producing the strokes of the morning with a sweet cover-drive off Sanderson and a slog-sweep against Jeetan Patel over long-on for six.
Laurie Evans, the Warwickshire batsman playing his first game on loan for
Northants and the 501st player to represent the county, and David Murphy then effected a partial recovery, sharing an unbroken partnership of 70 for the fifth wicket, with Evans unbeaten on 42 at the close and Murphy on 29.
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Northants players made every effort to get a shot up, but too many missed attempts proved advantageous for Sefton, with rebounds from Michelle Adu giving Sefton the possessions they needed to keep their composure and the lead.
Despite a slow start, Dan Birch found his rhythm as he knocked the
Northants spinners, Nicky Boje and Brown, around the ground, hitting seven fours and three sixes on his way to a 70-ball half-century.
The Welsh county failed to put up much of a fight yesterday as they were skittled for just 154 in 52.3 overs,
Northants wrapping up their victory just before 3pm with 42.3 overs remaining.
Keogh's half-century, just his second of the season, was a vital innings after
Northants slumped to 14 for 3 as they looked to build on a first-innings lead of 127.