COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Derby:
Derbyshire 247 & 258-7 drew with Middlesex 226-9 dec & 121-1 (Derbys 8pts, Middlesex 8pts)

Shah was unbeaten throughout the match, scoring 129 and 23 respectively

Derbyshire closed in on the top of the County Championship Division Two table after battling to a draw with Middlesex at Derby.

After resuming on 138-2 in their second innings, the hosts declared on 258-7, opener Wayne Madsen making 71.

That left Middlesex needing 280 to win and they got off to a positive start, scoring 121-1 off 24 overs before bad light forced the game to end in a draw.

Derbyshire are now five points behind Kent at the top of the table.

Madsen resumed on 34 not out and put on 69 with Daniel Redfern for the third wicket before Redfern was caught by Dawid Malan off the bowling of Shaun Udal.

Udal also dismissed Madsen, who scored his 71 off 130 balls, to leave the hosts 220-4.

Steven Finn re-entered the attack and took three wickets from his spell, dismissing Graham Wagg, Greg Smith and Tim Groenewald in quick succession, to finish the innings with figures of 3-49.

Wavell Hinds remained undefeated for Derbyshire on 25 before the declaration came after lunch.

Middlesex were set 280 off the remaining overs to win the game and got off to an aggressive start with Sam Robson and Nick Compton scoring at four an over.

Robson was run out for 29, while Compton was the top scorer for Middlesex, making an unbeaten 62 off 72 balls.

Owais Shah hit a quickfire 23 not out off 13 balls, including two fours and one six, in the Middlesex run chase before bad light forced an early close.

Middlesex remain bottom of the County Championship Division Two table, three points adrift of Leicestershire.

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