MATCH RESULT - DRAW
Middlesex 260 all out - 9 points
Derbyshire 304/7 - 10 points
Leus du Plooy became the first Derbyshire player to hit first-class centuries at home and away against Middlesex as their County Championship clash at Lord’s ended in a draw.
The 24-year-old, who hit his maiden Championship ton when the sides drew at Derby earlier in the season, added a second just before bad weather brought the match to a close.
Du Plooy reached his hundred in what turned out to be the final over of the season, finishing on exactly 100 not out as Derbyshire totalled 304-7, replying to Middlesex’s first innings score of 260.
The other notable achievement of day four was a career-best return of 5-93 – and a maiden five-wicket haul – for Middlesex seamer Ethan Bamber, who had collected the first two in successive deliveries the previous day.
The drawn match, which was repeatedly hit by rain and bad light throughout all four days, meant that Derbyshire finished seventh in the final Division Two table, with Middlesex in eighth.
Further rain in the morning meant that the teams were unable to resume until just after lunch, with the visitors on 199-4.
Having put together a partnership of 96, Du Plooy and Harvey Hosein narrowly missed out on a century stand as Bamber parted them with his third delivery of the day.
The young seamer swung the ball away from Hosein (57), whose edge flew into the hands of Dawid Malan at second slip.
Matt Critchley (16) was the next to depart, misjudging a pull shot off Bamber that sailed up into the hands of mid-on, but Fynn Hudson-Prentice immediately signalled his intentions by flat-batting James Harris for four.
Hudson-Prentice struck six boundaries as he accumulated 28 at better than a run a ball, but Bamber removed him with another outswinger, an edge into the wicketkeeper’s gloves securing his fifth wicket.
Du Plooy attempted to reach three figures quickly by striking successive boundaries off Max Holden, but he was stuck on 97 when the tea interval arrived – leaving him with an anxious wait to see if the rain might return.
It did – but by then another over had been delivered and the Derbyshire batsman achieved his ton from 175 balls, cutting Holden for three to end his first season in county cricket on a high.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
TEA - DAY FOUR
Middlesex 260 all out
Derbyshire 301/7
Middlesex seamer Ethan Bamber picked up his maiden five-wicket haul against Derbyshire as their County Championship clash at Lord’s drifted towards a draw.
The 20-year-old claimed all three wickets to fall in the afternoon session, with Derbyshire advancing to 301-7 at tea, a 41-run advantage over their hosts.
Left-hander Leus du Plooy is well-placed to record a second Championship century – having also scored his first against Middlesex earlier in the season – on 97 not out, with Anuj Dal (13no) alongside him at the crease.
Further rain in the morning delayed the resumption of play until after lunch, but Bamber struck in the second over, moving the ball away from Harvey Hosein (57) and finding the outside edge for Dawid Malan to take a slip catch.
Another brief shower held up the game for 15 minutes, but Matt Critchley then compiled a brisk 16 before mistiming a pull shot off Bamber and spooning the ball into the hands of Tim Murtagh at mid-on.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice also adopted an attacking approach, flat-batting James Harris over midwicket to get off the mark and nudging another boundary to third man to take his side past the Middlesex total.
Hudson-Prentice had reached 28 from 27 balls when he became Bamber’s fifth victim after prodding another outswinger into the gloves of John Simpson.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
LUNCH - DAY FOUR
Middlesex 260 all out
Derbyshire 199/4
Middlesex’s County Championship match against Derbyshire appears destined for a draw after rain soaked the Lord’s surface on the final morning.
Umpires Ian Blackwell and Billy Taylor inspected the pitch at 11.30am and ruled that it was still too wet for any play to take place before lunch.
Derbyshire finished day three on 199-4, with Leus du Plooy and Harvey Hosein both hitting unbeaten half-centuries in reply to the home side’s first innings total of 260.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
STUMPS - DAY THREE
Middlesex 260 all out
Derbyshire 199/4
DAWID Malan and Billy Godleman joined something of an exclusive club as the game between Middlesex and Derbyshire meandered towards a draw on day three at Lord’s.
The respective captains became just the fifth and sixth batsmen in Division Two to reach Championship runs for the season on the campaign’s penultimate day. Only Warwickshire’s Dominic Sibley has managed the feat in Division One.
Malan’s came in a score 72 out of a Middlesex total of 260, while Godleman achieved four figures when reaching 19, going on to make 27 as Derbyshire replied with 199-4.
The loss of much of the first two days to rain means without contrivance this game will peter out on the final day of the season tomorrow.
Middlesex began a day which started 45 minutes late on 199-5 and Malan, left on 999 for the season overnight, raised his landmark by stroking his first ball to the cover boundary, but departed soon afterwards LBW to Luis Reece (4-54).
The left-hander was given a loud ovation by the members as he left the field and he responded by raising his bat to all sides of the ground perhaps fuelling speculation this week that this was his farewell game for the tenants of Lord’s.
Reece claimed a fourth wicket when Toby Roland-Jones was LBW playing no shot before Fynn Hudson-Prentice (3-65) mopped up the tail, leaving James Harris 25 not out.
Godleman and Reece started with a flurry of boundaries, the openers added 49 in less than 10 overs before Bamber removed the latter LBW for 26 with the score on 49.
When Wayne Madsen went the same way first ball Bamber was on a hat-trick, but excitement got the better of him as a leg-stump delivery on the hip was tucked away for two runs by new batsman Leus Du Plooy.
Nevertheless, Derbyshire were 55-3, having lost three wickets for six runs, when Godleman edged Roland-Jones to Malan at slip.
Du Plooy and Alex Hughes steadied matters with a stand of 48, but Murtagh returned to have the latter caught by Miguel Cummins at wide mid-off just prior to tea.
The third session saw Derbyshire in charge, Du Plooy finding an ally in wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein, the pair prospering against Middlesex’s seamers who persistently banged the ball in too short.
Hosein was first to reach 50 from 80 balls with six fours, while Du Plooy took 31 deliveries more, but with eight boundaries.
Bad light ended play shortly afterwards leaving meaning another 16 overs were lost in this weather ruined fixture.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
TEA - DAY THREE
Middlesex 260 all out
Derbyshire 109/4
Billy Godleman became the second man on the day to pass 1000 Championship runs for the season on the third afternoon of Derbyshire’s match with Middlesex at Lord’s.
Godleman, who began his career at the home of cricket, passed the landmark when he reached 19, before eventually departing for 27 as the visitors reached 109-4 at tea, 151 runs behind.
He was the sixth Division Two player to achieve the feat this year a matter of hours after Middlesex skipper Dawid Malan did the same for the hosts.
Godleman’s cameo was part of an entertaining afternoon’s cricket which also saw Ethan Bamber take wickets off successive balls though the hat-trick eluded him.
Malan (72) raised his landmark by stroking his first ball of the day to the cover boundary, but departed soon afterwards LBW to Luis Reece (4-54).
The Derbyshire all-rounder claimed a fourth wicket when Toby Roland-Jones was LBW playing no shot before Fynn Hudson-Prentice (3-65) mopped up the tail.
Godleman and Reece started with a flurry of boundaries before Bamber removed the latter LBW with the score on 49.
Wayne Madsen went the same way first ball and the visitors were 55-3, having lost three wickets for six runs, when Godleman edged Roland-Jones to Malan at slip.
Leus Du Plooy and Alex Hughes steadied matters with a stand of 48, but Murtagh returned to have the latter caught by Miguel Cummins at wide mid-off to leave the game delicately poised.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
LUNCH - DAY THREE
Middlesex 260 all out
DAWID Malan reached 1000 runs for the season but missed out on a century on the third morning of Middlesex’s County Championship game with Derbyshire at Lord’s.
The Seaxes’ skipper reached the landmark while making 72 as the hosts were bowled out for 260.
Having been left on 999 for the campaign overnight, Malan was kept waiting for a further 45 minutes by a delayed start before striking his first ball for four to become only the 5th Division Two player to make 1000 runs this season.
However, hopes of a century were ended shortly afterwards when Luis Reece pinned him LBW.
James Harris and Toby Roland-Jones both played nicely to raise a second batting point for the hosts, before Reece (4-54) returned with the new ball to trap the latter LBW not playing a shot.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice then struck twice in three balls, pegging back Miguel Cummins’ middle stump before having Ethan Bamber caught behind, both batsmen failing to trouble the scorers.
Hudson-Prentice’s mopping up of the tail was completed when Tim Murtagh edged to third slip, leaving Harris unbeaten on 25.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
STUMPS - DAY TWO
Middlesex 199/5
LUIS REECE claimed a 50th Championship wicket of the season on a day when only 52 balls were possible in the Specsavers County Champion fixture between Middlesex and Derbyshire at Lord’s.
Persistent rain squalls throughout the day allowed for little more than half an hour’s play, but all-rounder Reece picked up the one victim he needed to reach the landmark.
By contrast, the bad weather left Middlesex skipper Dawid Malan stranded on 66 not out, leaving him one short of reaching 1000 Championship runs for the season.
The whole of the morning session was lost after heavy overnight rain relented at 10am, only to return shortly before the rescheduled start of play at 11:30am.
It was 1:50 before the players could emerge from the Pavilion and the two not out batsmen Malan and Martin Andersson began confidently.
Malan struck a sweet four square of the wicket, while Andersson, looking to follow up his 83 at Old Trafford against Lancashire last week with another sizeable contribution stroked one from Anuj Dal to the cover boundary.
Sadly, for Andersson it would prove his only scoring shot of the day as Reece reached his wicket milestone soon afterwards, finding the edge of the all-rounder’s bat to give wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein a straightforward catch.
John Simpson replaced Andersson at the crease, but couldn’t follow up his century against Lancashire last week. The Seaxes’ wicketkeeper had made only four when he played across a straight one from Anuj Dal to be trapped LBW.
Frustratingly for the hosts it proved to be the last delivery of the session as before James Harris could even take guard the rain returned once more to drive the players from the field for an early tea.
Hopes were raised when the skies briefly cleared, but plans to restart at 3:35pm had to be shelved when the heavens opened yet again.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
TEA - DAY TWO
Middlesex 199/5
LUIS REECE claimed his 50th championship wicket of the season on a truncated second afternoon of the game between Middlesex and Derbyshire at Lord’s.
Reece (2-47) reached the landmark when Martin Andersson edged a delivery through to wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein in a session where only 52 balls were bowled as the hosts advanced to 199-5.
John Simpson was the other wicket to fall, LBW, playing across a straight one from Anuj Dal.
New batsman James Harris didn't even have time to take guard before the rain, which prevented any play in the morning session, returned to send the players off for an early tea.
Seaxes skipper Dawid Malan remained 66 not out, needing one more to reach 1000 Championship runs for the season.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
LUNCH - DAY TWO
Middlesex 176/3
RAIN prevented any play on the second morning of Middlesex’s Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash with Derbyshire at Lord’s.
Torrential overnight downpours relented around 10am, raising hopes for an 11:30am start, but the rain returned, forcing umpires Ian Blackwell and Billy Taylor to abandon those plans.
If and when play restarts Middlesex will resume on 176-3 with Dawid Malan 51 not out.
The Seaxes skipper, who yesterday was recalled to England’s T20 squad for England’s tour to New Zealand in November, needs 16 more runs to reach 1000 in the County Championship this season.
However, further heavy showers are forecast for the rest of the day, so the milestone may have to wait.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
STUMPS - DAY ONE
Middlesex 176/3
Sam Robson and Dawid Malan hit half-centuries as Middlesex built a solid platform on a truncated first day against Derbyshire at Lord’s.
Robson batted fluently for his knock of 93 from 163 balls, sharing a 90-run third-wicket partnership with Malan, who remained undefeated on 51 when bad weather brought proceedings to a premature close.
The Middlesex captain, who has been named in England’s T20 squad for their tour of New Zealand, still requires another 16 to pass the landmark of 1,000 County Championship runs for the season.
Derbyshire exercised their right to bowl first and gained an initial success in the fifth over when Nick Gubbins pushed forward to Luis Reece and was caught behind without scoring.
Reece and Fynn Hudson-Prentice bowled tightly to squeeze Middlesex’s scoring rate to around two an over, but Robson and Max Holden dug in as they gradually put together a partnership of 52.
However, Derbyshire struck again shortly before lunch when the pacy Sam Conners – making his first appearance at Lord’s – unleashed a rising delivery that Holden (19) could only deflect into the hands of Wayne Madsen at first slip.
Robson, who looked comfortable on both sides of the wicket, nudged a two to third man to pass 50 for the sixth time this season in the second over of the afternoon session.
Meanwhile, Malan – who hit a career-best 199 when the sides met at Derby earlier in the season – settled quickly at the crease, clipping Reece for a boundary through midwicket as the Middlesex total progressed into three figures.
The skipper survived an lbw appeal from Anuj Dal, who looked the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers, regularly getting the ball to fizz past the bat without any tangible success.
There was another close call for Malan on 34 when he edged medium-pacer Alex Hughes to slip, but this time Madsen – who is only five catches short of the Derbyshire record for an outfield player – spilled the chance.
Yet it was Hughes (1-11) who made the breakthrough in his next over as Robson attempted to cut him and Harvey Hosein, standing up to the stumps, snapped up the edge.
Bad light prompted the umpires to call for an early tea soon afterwards but, when play resumed, Malan swiftly advanced to reach his half-century from 94 deliveries.
He and Martin Andersson (4 not out) moved their side’s score along to 176-3 before a further deterioration in the light, coupled with the arrival of rain, halted play for the day.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
TEA - DAY ONE
Middlesex 159/3
Sam Robson narrowly missed out on a century as Middlesex’s batsmen took control on the first day of their County Championship clash with Derbyshire at Lord’s.
The Seaxes’ opener amassed 93 from 163 balls before he was caught at the wicket off Alex Hughes shortly before the tea interval.
That ended a 90-run partnership with Dawid Malan, who was unbeaten on 34 when bad light brought the afternoon session to a premature close with the home side 159-3.
Derbyshire opted against a toss and that decision paid immediate dividends as they claimed the wicket of Nick Gubbins in the fifth over.
The out of form Gubbins departed for a duck, prodding outside his off stump at Luis Reece as Derbyshire sent down a sequence of five successive maidens.
However, Robson and Max Holden put together a stand of 52, which came to an end shortly before lunch when Sam Conners had Holden (19) caught at first slip.
Robson displayed excellent timing as he unleashed a series of resplendent shots on either side of the wicket, bringing up his half-century from 93 deliveries.
Malan survived a scare when his edge off Hughes evaded the slips, but the Derbyshire medium-pacer made the breakthrough by dismissing Robson in his next over.
New batsman Martin Andersson got off the mark by driving his first ball to the cover boundary before darkening skies interrupted play.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
LUNCH - DAY ONE
Middlesex 72/2
Sam Robson advanced towards a sixth County Championship half-century of the season as Middlesex laboured to 72-2 after being put in by Derbyshire at Lord’s.
Robson went to lunch unbeaten on 45, having shared a gritty partnership of 52 with Max Holden (19) following the early departure of Nick Gubbins.
The Middlesex left-hander’s run of low scores continued when he pushed forward to Luis Reece and edged behind for a duck.
That success, which came in the fifth over, took Reece to just one short of 50 Championship victims for the season.
The other wicket to fall during the morning session was that of Holden, who fended a rising delivery from the lively Sam Conners into the hands of first slip.
Match updates provided by ECB Reporters Network.
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Match highlights - Ethan Bamber claimed his maiden five-wicket haul on the final day of Middlesex's 2019 campaign at Lord's
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Stuart Law looks back on his first season with the club, with the final match of 2019 ending in a draw against Derbyshire.
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All the action from Day Three at Lord's, as Middlesex take on Derbyshire in the Specsavers County Championship.
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Dawid Malan reflects on the third day against Derbyshire at Lord's, in which he reached 1,000 Specsavers County Championship runs for the season.
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All the 'action' from a day cut very short by rain at Lord's, as Middlesex take on Derbyshire in the Specsavers County Championship.
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Robson (93) & Malan (51*) both impress on the opening day against Derbyshire, despite the weather limiting proceedings.
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Assistant Coach Nic Pothas reflects on a positive first day with the bat against Derbyshire at Lord's.
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All the best images from Day One of our Specsavers County Championship clash against Derbyshire at Lord's.
Session by session updates from Lord's, as Middlesex take on Derbyshire in the Specsavers County Championship.
The curtain comes down on Middlesex’s 2019 season this week at Lord’s with some familiar faces returning to the Home of Cricket with visiting side Derbyshire.
