Smith puts Derbyshire on top

Greg Smith scored his first century and then took a wicket to lift Derbyshire

Greg Smith had a day to remember as Derbyshire claimed a slender first-innings lead over Middlesex in their LV County Championship Division Two clash at Derby.

The 25-year-old South African all-rounder celebrated his maiden first-class century and then dismissed Ed Joyce to give Derbyshire the upper hand going into the fourth day.

Derbyshire's 347 put them 41 in front which looked a very useful advantage as Middlesex crawled to 53 for two at the close, still only 12 in front.

The home side had looked set for a bigger first-innings total but the last five wickets tumbled cheaply with their former seamer Alan Richardson taking three wickets in 15 balls.

Smith and Chris Rogers had laid a platform by playing patiently on a sluggish pitch to take their fourth-wicket stand to 91 in 32 overs before Murali Kartik snared his third wicket.

Rogers had faced 180 balls for his 80, which included only seven fours, when he tried to work Kartik off his legs but got a leading edge and was caught and bowled.

Smith, who is due to qualify as English before the end of the season, reached his 50 from 104 balls and with Rikki Clarke, took the score past 200 before Middlesex broke through again.

Clarke, who was playing his first innings since giving up the captaincy, played responsibly until he drove loosely at Dan Evans and was caught at cover for 21.

Middlesex should have sent back Tom New in Evans' next over but wicketkeeper Ben Scott spilled a chance down the leg side and New was dropped two more times before he reached double figures.

Both times Kartik was the culprit at first slip with Tim Murtagh the unlucky bowler and those lapses proved costly as New helped Smith add 70 in 21 overs.

Smith reached his century with his 12th four after facing 163 balls but Richardson had him caught at second slip for 113 to spark a mini-collapse.

Jon Clare fell to Richardson without scoring, New edged Evans to the wicketkeeper and Ian Hunter became Scott's third consecutive victim in the next over.

Graham Wagg and Charl Langeveldt hit out to add 26 before the South African went for a big swipe at Kartik and gave Scott his fourth catch.

Middlesex had 31 overs to negotiate and they had to work hard to survive against some accurate seam bowling by Langeveldt and Hunter.

Billy Godleman became almost strokeless, scoring only two off 53 balls, before Clare found enough movement off the seam to have him caught at second slip with only 23 on the board.

The visitors were only four runs in credit when Smith's off-spin pinned Joyce lbw with his eighth ball.

The Middlesex skipper appeared to be the victim of an arm ball as he pushed forward and his departure for 34 has tilted the balance towards Derbyshire.