Match Centre

MATCH RESULT - DRAW

Derbyshire 557/6 dec & 178/6 - 12 points

Middlesex 520 all out - 9 points

Derbyshire survived a last day scare to deny Middlesex an improbable victory in the Division Two match at Derby.

After Dawid Malan’s 199 and John Simpson’s 115 had taken Middlesex to 520, Derbyshire were wobbling at 39 for 4, only 76 runs in front.

But South African batsman Leus du Plooy followed his first innings century with an unbeaten 64 and 61 from Harvey Hosein took the home side to 178 for 6, 215 on, when the teams shook hands on a draw.

That was the most likely outcome at the start of the day as Malan and Simpson took their stand to 224, one short of the seventh wicket record by any county against Derbyshire, before the Middlesex skipper pushed a return catch back to Matt Critchley.

He had batted just over eight-and-a-half hours, passing his career best 182 not out, and was only the 68th batsman in the history of the game to be out 199.

With Fynn Hudson-Prentice falling one short of a hundred for Derbyshire, it is the only time in a first-class game in England batsmen have scored 99 and 199.

Simpson’s century and his stand with Malan was more significant for Middlesex who had gone from a position where defeat was very much a possibility, to one where they could put Derbyshire under pressure.

Billy Godleman and Luis Reece negotiated four overs before lunch while extending the 37 lead by 10 but the position changed dramatically after the interval as four wickets fell for 16 runs.

Godleman’s tentative push at Tom Helm resulted in an edge to Simpson and Fynn Hudson-Prentice was run out in the next over when he was sent back and failed to beat the throw from midwicket.

Reece missed a sweep at Nathan Sowter and Alex Hughes bagged a pair when the leg-spinner found his outside edge to leave Derbyshire in trouble on 39 for 4.

The lead was only just past 100 when du Plooy edged Toby Roland-Jones but Sam Robson stationed at a wide first slip was unable to hold on.

Middlesex employed spin at both ends but the runs began to come more freely and by tea, Derbyshire were 163 ahead with overs running out.

Sowter had Hosein lbw pushing forward and Malan beat Critchley’s defensive prod but the lead was now over 200 and it was no surprise when the draw was agreed with 20 overs remaining.

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TEA - DAY FOUR

Derbyshire 557/6 dec & 126/4

Middlesex 520 all out

Derbyshire recovered from a post-lunch collapse as the match against Middlesex at Derby headed for a draw.

The home side slipped to 39 for 4, a lead of only 76, before Leus du Plooy and Harvey Hosein lifted them to 126 for 4 at tea, 163 runs in front with 34 overs left in the match.

Dawid Malan's 199 and John Simpson's 115 carried Middlesex to 520 and their bowlers raised hopes of an unlikely victory by taking four wickets for 16 runs.

Billy Godleman fell to Tom Helm, Fynn Hudson-Prentice was run out and after Luis Reece was lbw sweeping, Alex Hughes bagged a pair.

But du Plooy with 40 and 45 from Hosein edged Derbyshire closer to safety.

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LUNCH - DAY FOUR

Derbyshire 557/6 dec & 10/0

Middlesex 520 all out

Middlesex captain Dawid Malan fell one short of a double century on the final day of the match against Derbyshire at Derby.

Malan passed his previous highest score of 182 not out but was caught and bowled by Matt Critchley for 199 after batting for more than eight-and-a-half hours.

It ended a seventh wicket stand of 224 with wicketkeeper John Simpson who made 115 before he was bowled by Leus du Plooy as Middlesex were finally all out for 520, 37 behind Derbyshire.

With the game looking to be heading for a draw, Derbyshire had four overs to negotiate before lunch but reached the interval on 10 without loss.

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STUMPS - DAY THREE

Derbyshire 557/6 dec

Middlesex 436/6

Dawid Malan kept himself in Ashes contention with a batting master-class to blunt Derbyshire’s victory hopes against Middlesex at Derby.

The Middlesex skipper played superbly to score an unbeaten 177 to take his side past the 408 follow-on target as the visitors closed day three on 436 for 6, 121 runs behind.

John Simpson gave him excellent support with 91 not out as the pair shared an unbroken stand of 186, a seventh wicket record for Middlesex against Derbyshire.

The home side took only three wickets, one of them to Fynn Hudson-Prentice who became only the fifth bowler in Derbyshire’s history to strike with his first ball in first-class cricket for the county.

Malan went out to resume his innings knowing a lot rested on him and from the start, he set a tone of defiance with an impressive display of concentration and selectivity.

Apart from a couple of false shots, his judgement of when to play and when to leave the ball was exemplary and although Derbyshire switched their bowlers around, they could not force an error.

Steve Finn fulfilled his nightwatchman duties by staying with his captain for the first 35 minutes of the day before Logan van Beek knocked out his leg stump and although Max Holden struggled, he hung around for 73 minutes.

There was little he could do about the ball that removed him as Hudson-Prentice found late movement to become the first player since John Wright in 1980 to strike with his first ball.

Wright was on the ground to see another memorable moment for the 23-year-old who bowled with control and was unlucky to see Simpson missed in the slips on 21.

George Scott was not as fortunate when he failed to get over a drive at Ravi Rampaul and saw a thick edge fly low to third slip where Matt Critchley took a brilliant diving catch.

At 250 for 6, another 158 runs were needed to avoid the follow-on but Simpson matched Malan’s application to take Middlesex to tea and beyond.

Malan completed his third championship century of the season from 200 balls with his 15th four and, Simpson’s escape apart, there was little for the bowlers once the second new ball lost its hardness.

Simpson gave another tough chance on 43 when a sliced drive at Reece burst through the hands of Anuj Dal leaping at cover point before he completed a deserved 50 from 138 balls shortly before Malan went to 150 off 302 balls.

Leus du Plooy became the eighth bowler used during the day but nothing could part Malan and Simpson who went past Middlesex’s previous best seventh wicket stand of 146 at Lord’s in 1932.

TEA - DAY THREE

Derbyshire 557/6 dec

Middlesex 319/6

Dawid Malan has frustrated Derbyshire’s bowlers with an unbeaten century to give Middlesex a chance of saving the game at Derby.

The Middlesex captain batted through the first two sessions of the third day to go in at tea on 129 out of his side’s 319 for 6, 89 runs away from the follow-on target of 408 and 238 runs behind.

He was given excellent support by John Simpson who joined him when George Scott was brilliantly caught at third slip by Matt Critchley off Ravi Rampaul for 23 with Middlesex 250 for 6.

At that stage they were still 158 runs away from avoiding the follow-on but so far the seventh wicket stand has added 69 in 25 overs.

Earlier Fynn Hudson-Prentice became only the fifth player in Derbyshire’s history to take a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket for the county when he had Max Holden caught behind for 10.

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LUNCH - DAY THREE

Derbyshire 557/6 dec

Middlesex 212/5

An unbeaten half-century from Middlesex captain Dawid Malan has kept the visitors in the match against Derbyshire at Derby.

Malan was 75 not out at lunch but Middlesex at 212 for 5 still have a lot of work to do to reach the follow-on target of 408.

Middlesex went into the third day 422 runs behind but nightwatchman Steve Finn survived for 35 minutes before he lost his leg stump to Logan van Beek.

Malan reached his 50 from 106 balls and Max Holden helped him take the score past 200 before he was caught behind off Fynn Hudson-Prentice who became only the fifth Derbyshire player to take a wicket with his first ball for the county in first-class cricket.

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STUMPS - DAY TWO

Derbyshire 557/6 dec

Middlesex 135/3

Middlesex are facing an uphill struggle to save the Division Two match at Derby after a record-breaking day for Derbyshire’s batsmen.

Leus du Plooy scored 118 and Anuj Dal 92 as the home side took their first innings to 557 for 6 before declaring.

The visitors slipped to 65 for 2 before Nick Gubbins and skipper Dawid Malan added 67 in 22 overs but Luis Reece removed Gubbins to leave Middlesex on 135 for 3, 422 runs behind.

Middlesex’s hopes of pegging Derbyshire back by taking early wickets quickly evaporated as du Plooy and Dal accumulated steadily to secure maximum batting points to take the county past its previous highest score against the visitors of 414.

The patience du Plooy had shown throughout his innings was rewarded when he reached his maiden first-class century in English cricket, a milestone he celebrated by skipping down the pitch to drive Steve Finn for six.

It needed a fine diving catch by Nathan Sowter who clung on to a firm cut off George Scott at point to end his innings but that was Middlesex’s only success of another chastening session in the field.

Derbyshire continued to pile on the runs after lunch and the declaration only came after Dal lifted Toby Roland-Jones to third man where Finn dived forward to take a good catch.

It was the first time in Derbyshire’s history that five players had passed 90 in the same innings but it was now a question of whether their bowlers could get more out of a pitch which had shown some signs of uneven bounce.

Sam Robson survived a hard chance to third slip in the third over before Stevie Eskinazi was rapped on the glove by a ball from Ravi Rampaul that spat from a good length but the openers were making good progress until both fell to loose strokes.

Eskinazi reached for a drive at Luis Reece and was well caught by Matt Critchley in the covers and Derbyshire were gifted another wicket after tea when Robson obligingly guided Tony Palladino into the hands of first slip.

Robson’s dismayed reaction said everything about his dismissal which left his side on 65 for 2, a long way from the follow-on target of 408.

A lot now rested on Malan and Gubbins who played with discipline and restraint although Malan cashed in on a wayward Logan van Beek over by driving and cutting the fast bowler for four boundaries.

They looked like surviving to the close but Reece returned at the Racecourse End to trap Gubbins on the crease for 37 and put Derbyshire firmly in control.

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TEA - DAY TWO

Derbyshire 557/6 dec

Middlesex 55/1

Middlesex have lost an early wicket after Derbyshire passed 550 before declaring on the second day of the match at Derby.

The home side pulled out at 557 for 6 after Anuj Dal was out for 92, the first time in Derbyshire’s history that five players have passed 90 in the same innings.

Leus du Plooy earlier scored 118, his maiden first-class hundred in England, as Middlesex’s bowlers took only one wicket in the morning session.

Dal and Harvey Hosein added 75 before Derbyshire declared and after Sam Robson was dropped at third slip in the third over, Stevie Eskinazi fell to a diving catch in the covers off Luis Reece as Middlesex moved to 55 for 1 at tea, still 502 runs behind.

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LUNCH - DAY TWO

Derbyshire 488/5

Leus du Plooy scored his maiden first-class century in England as Derbyshire tightened their grip on the second morning of the match against Middlesex at Derby.

The South African reached three figures from 208 balls and with Anuj Dal, who scored an unbeaten 57, shared a fifth wicket stand of 133 to take Derbyshire to 488 for 5 at lunch.

The home side passed their previous highest score against Middlesex of 414 and after du Plooy brought up his hundred, he came down the pitch to drive Steve Finn for six.

Middlesex’s bowlers again struggled to impose any pressure on the batsmen and it needed a brilliant diving catch by Nathan Sowter at point off George Scott to remove du Plooy for 118 shortly before the interval.

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STUMPS - DAY ONE

Derbyshire 372/4

Billy Godleman scored a century but Fynn Hudson-Prentice fell agonisingly short of a memorable hundred as Derbyshire dominated the opening day of the match against Middlesex at Derby.

Hudson-Prentice was out for 99 from 133 balls on his first-class debut for Derbyshire and Luis Reece also fell for 96 but the home side still closed in a strong position on 372 for 4 with Leus du Plooy 50 not out.

Tom Helm took two late wickets but Middlesex lacked intensity for much of the day after electing to put Derbyshire in.

A grassy pitch probably persuaded them to bowl but if there was anything there for the seamers, they failed to take advantage by dropping too short.

Godleman may have unsettled their line with the way he set about the bowling, charging down the wicket to drive Toby Roland-Jones for six on his way to a 35 ball half-century that also contained nine fours.

Perhaps Middlesex were taken by surprise given that Godleman holds the record for the slowest ever championship 50 from 244 balls, made against them in 2013, but they did not help themselves by spilling three chances.

The most costly was when Max Holden put down Reece at mid-wicket off Roland-Jones before he had scored which would have given Middlesex the early breakthrough that might have changed the course of the day.

Godleman should have gone on 51 when he cut Nathan Sowter to gully and the spinner saw Reece put down at slip on 33 in his next over.

By the time Sowter found some turn and bounce to have Godleman caught behind, Derbyshire were well set and Hudson-Prentice took advantage to unfurl some handsome drives through the covers on his first-class debut for the county.

The 23-year-old last played in the championship in 2016 before he was released by Sussex but Derbyshire’s decision to sign him on a three year deal looks a decent one on this showing.

He and Reece took Derbyshire to a first batting point in the 49th over before Reece drove George Scott tamely to mid on four short of a second championship century of the season.

Hudson-Prentice quickly passed his previous best first-class score of 20 and after reaching 50 from 64 balls, launched Sowter over long-on for six.

By contrast, du Plooy struggled with his timing but he dug in as Derbyshire went past 300 before Middlesex claimed the second new ball.

It should have accounted for Hudson-Prentice who edged Tom Helm to second slip on 91 only for the umpire to signal a no ball which summed up Middlesex’s day.

But Helm got him two overs later when Hudson-Prentice top-edged a pull to midwicket and then had Alex Hughes caught behind without scoring, the only failure on a day which belonged to the batsmen.

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TEA - DAY ONE

Derbyshire 259/2

A century by Billy Godleman against one of his former counties has put Derbyshire in a strong position on the opening day of the Division Two match against Middlesex at Derby.

Godleman scored 102 and Luis Reece 96 as Derbyshire went in at tea on 259 for 2 after Middlesex had chosen to bowl.

The visitors struggled as Godleman attacked the bowling, reaching 50 from 35 balls, and 100 from 115, his fastest in the county championship.

The Derbyshire skipper was caught behind off Nathan Sowter and Reece drove George Scott to mid on but Fynn Hudson-Prentice marked his first-class debut for the home side with an unbeaten 52.

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LUNCH - DAY ONE

Derbyshire 116/0

Derbyshire’s batsmen have dominated on the first morning of the Division Two match against Middlesex at Derby.

The visitors decision to bowl first backfired as former Middlesex batsman Billy Godleman and Luis Reece shared an unbroken opening stand of 116 in 30 overs.

Godleman, who holds the record for the slowest county championship 50, raced to a half-century off only 35 balls while Reece reached his 50 from 92 balls.

Middlesex did not help their cause by dropping Godleman on 51 and Reece on 33 with Nathan Sowter the unlucky bowler both times.

Derbyshire went into the match without Wayne Madsen who missed a championship match for the first time in four years after he sprained an ankle in training yesterday.

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