The Northamptonshire coach was full of praise for his former skipper who finished unbeaten on 113 alongside Lance Klusener (44no) following a third-wicket stand of 114 with opener Stephen Peters (65).

That put Capel's side in control on 274-4 after day one of their LV County Championship Division Two derby with Leicestershire.

He admitted: "I've seen Sales play a lot over the last 14 years and I've got to say that's the best hundred I've ever seen him score.

"He played each ball on its merit as there were some good ones flying around out there.

"But he showed great determination, application and patience. It was really good to watch.

"It took over five hours to reach his century and he's faced 266 balls so far. I thought he took responsibility and worked hard.

"He played very appropriately on the surface and that has certainly set us up for the second day.

"It was certainly Northamptonshire's day after being put into bat in some favourable bowling conditions. There was good pace and bounce.

"However we coped really well and all credit to those two partnerships. It was a very good day for us.

"We saw an excellent effort by Sales and Peters to bat the way they did before lunch and through the afternoon session until the last ball before tea.

"I thought they rode it well in the conditions and deserved their rewards.

"The first day is gone and if today's three sessions go equally as well then it will set us up."

Sales came to the crease with Northants struggling at 51 for two and played patiently taking 224 balls to reach his second county championship hundred of the season.

Leicestershire captain Paul Nixon won the toss and put the hosts into bat, which looked a good decision when Niall O'Brien nicked a Dillon du Preez delivery to Boeta Dippenaar at second slip for nine.

Peters and Rob White played some lovely shots as Northants progressed at a steady rate.

And White looked well set before he edged Jim Allenby to Nixon when on 20 as Northants slumped to 51 for two.

Sales came to the crease and made his intentions clear from the start, crashing Allenby through the covers for four.

Leicestershire pinned the Northants batsmen down after lunch, restricting the hosts to just 10 runs in nine overs.

Nadeem Malik in particular was impressive with the ball for Leicestershire as Northants struggled to score.

But Sales played patiently, punishing any loose bowling with boundaries.
Malik continued to cause the batsmen trouble and was unlucky not to have his first wicket when Peters was dropped by HD Ackerman at second slip.

Peters recovered to reach his half-century, top-edging Tom Smith over the slips for four while Sales also reached fifty smashing Claude Henderson for four in the very next over.

This seemed to free Sales as he fired a Henderson delivery into one of the neighbouring gardens for six.

Peters fell just before tea lobbing Tom New to Allenby at short mid-wicket for 65.

Sales and Riki Wessels kept the scoreboard ticking along with Sales lucky not to be caught by Henderson at third man off the bowling of du Preez when on 71.

Wessels succumbed to du Preez for six, nicking one behind to Nixon to leave Northants on 185 for four.

Sales bought up his ton in typical fashion smashing Smith for four, one of 14 fours he scored on his way to three figures.

Lance Klusener was happy to play second fiddle to Sales, frustrating the Leicestershire bowlers with several boundaries as he added a useful 44 ensuring the pair would resume this morning.