Déjà vu for Newman at Derby

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Having batted watchfully to lunch, Scott Newman went on the attack following the interval, amassing 99 in the session

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Scott Newman enjoyed himself at Derby for the second year running to give Middlesex the edge on a rain-shortened opening day in the LV= County Championship Division Two clash.

Newman scored a century for Surrey at the County Ground in April last year and he added an unbeaten 119 from 185 balls before the weather ended play shortly before tea today.

But Derbyshire should have cut short his innings on 15 when captain Greg Smith put the left-hander down at mid-off three overs before lunch off seamer Tim Groenewald.

Newman spent the morning in the slow lane, scoring only 20 in 29 overs, but he moved into overdrive after lunch, plundering 99 in the afternoon session as Middlesex closed on 228 for three.

Runs had come at a trickle after the visitors had won the toss, with Derbyshire bowling 10 maidens in the first 16 overs of an overcast day.

But the home side wasted the new ball by bowling too wide and did not make the openers play enough, which allowed them to bat through the first hour.

Steffan Jones - today awarded his county cap - was rewarded for bowling a straighter line when John Simpson pushed forward and edged to Steve Adshead with the total on 36.

Graham Wagg marked his first championship appearance since April by having Owais Shah caught at third slip for 12 in the 25th over, and Smith spilled Newman next ball.

At lunch, Middlesex were 63 for two but the scoring rate increased dramatically in the afternoon as Newman and Dawid Malan dominated the bowling to the extent that 165 runs came in 32 overs.

Newman had only eight scoring shots to his name in the morning, but he was a man in a hurry after bringing up his half-century, which took 106 balls, with a pull for four off Smith.

His second 50 came off only 57 balls and contained a six over long-off from the left-arm spin of Robin Peterson as he moved to his second championship century of the season.

Newman had missed out in the previous game against Glamorgan when he was dismissed on 99, but he made no mistake this time, driving Jones through mid-off for his 19th four in the 54th over.

Malan had played the supporting role with 41 and was only 20 short of 1,000 runs for the season when he dragged a drive at Wes Durston's off-spin into his stumps.

The third-wicket stand had added 139 in 32 overs and established a good platform for Middlesex to take control of the match, but only four more overs were possible before the rain arrived. Play was called off for the day at 4.45pm.