Late heroics salvage Middlesex draw

Number nine Tim Murtagh occupied the crease for 88 balls to stave off defeat against rivals Derbyshire at Uxbridge

Middlesex put a dent in Derbyshire’s LV= County Championship promotion chances as they clung on for a draw with nine wickets down at Uxbridge.

Injured batsman Adam London and ninth-wicket partner Tim Murtagh batted out 21 overs to help salvage four more points which may prove invaluable in the hosts’ attempt to avoid finishing bottom of the table for the first time in their 145-year history.

Despite a career-best 5-65 from off-spinner Greg Smith, Derbyshire were left frustrated at the end of a brave attempt to clinch the victory they badly needed in their bid to go up.

They made a bold declaration to set Middlesex a target of 330 to win off a minimum of 75 overs and their gamble looked to have paid off when a middle-order collapse left the home side struggling on 206 for eight.

But 20-year-old London, who broke and dislocated the little finger on his right hand in the field on the second day, made a dogged 65 before he was dismissed with 16 balls remaining.

Murtagh, who faced 88 balls for his 18 not out, kept his nerve as Middlesex held out at 259 for nine.

Derbyshire set up the declaration by adding 85 in the morning to take them to 281 for two.

By that time, Chris Rogers had completed his fifth century of the season. His 112 not out came off 160 balls with 12 fours and Smith was with him on 42 not out.

Middlesex made a solid start to their chase and there was little to suggest a collapse was in the offing for most of the afternoon, although Tim Groenewald struck with the first ball after lunch to get Nick Compton lbw and followed that by bowling Dan Housego to make it 59 for two.

The departure of Housego brought Dawid Malan and Neil Dexter together and as their third-wicket partnership of 76 in 18 overs began to gain momentum, Middlesex’s chance of victory were growing.

But when Dexter was bowled by Garry Park at 135 for three, the game swung Derbyshire’s way.

Smith ripped through the Middlesex middle order with four wickets in successive overs on either side of the tea interval.

John Simpson got caught on the back foot and was lbw for one, then Gareth Berg aimed a big drive at the off-spinner in the final over before tea and was bowled for nought.

The tumble of wickets continued after the break, as Malan’s resistance ended when he was caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe sweeping for 52.

When Udal had his off-stump knocked over, Smith had taken 4-6 in 21 balls and Middlesex had lost five wickets for 14 runs in 56 balls.

London and Murali Kartik stemmed the flow with a stand of 57 in 13 overs but from the first ball of leg-spinner Mark Lawson’s third spell, Kartik top-edged a sweep and was easily caught at slip.