Will Davis claimed 4-55 as 13 wickets fell on an even Day Two versus Northamptonshire.
Derbyshire were bowled out for 281 in the opening session, but four wickets from Davis as well as two each for Shiv Thakor and Jeevan Mendis meant the day closed with the game finely poised at The 3aaa County Ground.
Mendis (5) was out in the fourth over of the morning, caught at first slip by Ben Duckett, giving Ben Sanderson his third wicket of the innings.
Unbeaten overnight batsman, Alex Hughes, put on a 42-run partnership with Tom Milnes before he was caught behind by Adam Rossington for 21. Milnes played a counter-attacking innings as he hit 24 from 35 balls enabling Derbyshire to claim their first batting point.
He was caught at the square leg boundary before the innings was brought to a close, Davis caught and bowled by Buck for 1, the seamer claiming career-best figures of 5-68.
Milnes and Tony Palladino opened the bowling for Derbyshire and both had strong lbw appeals before lunch but Northants went into the interval at 22-0.
Thakor got the breakthrough, removing Duckett (53) shortly after Northants passed 100, the opener edging to Daryn Smit at second slip.
The all-rounder had his second wicket in his next over with the help of quick reactions in the slip cordon. New batsman Wakely (1) edged a swinging delivery to Smit who parried the low chance to Wayne Madsen at first slip.
Davis got two wickets shortly before the tea interval. First, opener Rob Newton (50) was out to a good high catch by Madsen at first slip. Two overs later Davis has his second and Derbyshire’s fourth, Rob Keogh (7) out to another excellent catch in the cordon, this time by Alex Hughes at third slip.
Palladino removed Richard Levi (11) the other side of the interval. An in-swinging delivery drew the inside edge onto pad, which looped up and was taken smartly by Gary Wilson down the leg side.
Davis then entered another golden spell, removing Adam Rossington (17) lbw, at which stage Northants had lost 6-52 since the opening partnership of 101 was broken.
Mendis claimed his maiden first-class wicket for Derbyshire when he removed Steven Crook for 13, Smit taking another good catch, this time low to his left at slip.
Five balls later, Davis had his fourth, Rory Kleinveldt (1) caught behind by Wilson, reducing Northants to 171-8.
Buck and Max Holden, however, put on 89 for the ninth wicket to move the momentum back towards the visitors, before Mendis had his second, Buck out lbw for 43.
By the time bad light brought an early end to proceedings, Northants had moved into the lead on 291-9, with Holden unbeaten on 68.
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