Middlesex took control on the first day of their County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire, bolstering their hopes of promotion. With a 15-point gap behind second-placed Yorkshire, Middlesex capitalised on a strong afternoon session in Derby.
Derbyshire collapsed dramatically, losing six wickets for just three runs in 43 balls, falling from 130-2 to being bowled out for 173. Toby Roland-Jones led the charge with an impressive 5-34, leaving Derbyshire’s chances of avoiding the wooden spoon in jeopardy.
In response, Middlesex cruised to 125-1 by the close of play, with Mark Stoneman unbeaten on 79 and Max Holden on 44. The pair's partnership of 125 put Middlesex just 48 runs behind, with nine wickets still in hand.
Earlier in the day, Ryan Higgins set the tone by dismissing Luis Reece for 20 before Roland-Jones took centre stage. He removed Brooke Guest for seven, then continued his destructive form after lunch. Harry Came, who had scored 66, lost his off stump, while Wayne Madsen top-edged a shot to first slip for 20. Roland-Jones then dismissed Aneurin Donald, Alex Thomson, and Zak Chappell without scoring, and David Lloyd gave a return catch to Ethan Bamber for just two.
Despite the collapse, teenager Harry Moore and spinner Jack Morley added 35 valuable runs for the ninth wicket. Morley was bowled by Luke Hollman, and Moore’s innings ended at 32 when he mis-hit a drive off Hollman to deep mid-on.
Middlesex’s reply started shakily, with Sam Robson caught at mid-on for a duck off Zak Chappell’s second ball, but Stoneman and Holden steadied the ship, piling on 71 runs in just an hour. They will look to extend their lead on Wednesday, resuming only 48 runs behind Derbyshire's total.
Match Summary:
- Derbyshire 173 (Came 66, Moore 32; Roland-Jones 5-34, Hollman 2-12)
- Middlesex 125-1 (Stoneman 79, Holden 44) trail by 48 runs with 9 wickets in hand.