LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's:
Middlesex 374 beat Derbyshire 196 & 143 by an innings and 35 runs
Middlesex 23 pts, Derbyshire 3 pts
Match scorecard

Steven Finn has now taken 28 Championship wickets this season

Test hopeful Steven Finn took another four wickets at Lord's as Middlesex wrapped up a three-day victory by an innings and 35 runs against Derbyshire.

After being bowled out for 374, adding just eight to their overnight score, Middlesex led by 178 on first innings.

Finn then took 4-19 as Derbyshire were rolled for just 143 - to earn Middlesex their second successive victory.

The only resistance came from Chesney Hughes (59no) and Tim Groenewald (27), who put on 72 for the ninth wicket.

Finn again caught the eye of chairman of selectors Geoff Miller who, despite being a former Derbyshire player, watched from the Middlesex dressing room balcony as the 21-year-old from Watford ripped through the visitors' top order.

Having played both Tests on England's winter tour of Bangladesh, Finn strengthened his chances to win his third cap against the same opponents back at St John's Wood in a fortnight's time.

In two fiery stints from the Pavilion End, Finn put the result beyond doubt as Derbyshire capitulated within three hours.

The gangly right-arm firebrand made the first breakthrough in his fourth over when Wayne Madsen was caught a third slip after fending at a lifter. And, two balls later, Paul Borrington played around a shooting off-cutter to go leg before.

Having already taken a blow on his right glove when attempting to drop his hands on another spitting delivery from Finn, Derbyshire skipper Chris Rogers attempted to pull a good length ball from Tim Murtagh only to sky a catch to cover point.

The slide gathered momentum when Greg Smith aimed to on-drive a Finn off-cutter and edged low to first slip where England captain Andrew Strauss pocketed a sharp chance to his right.

And Finn returned after lunch to remove left-hander Tom Lungley, who was caught behind when drawn into one angled across him.

Derbyshire's plight would have been even worse but for a counter-attacking 59 from 55 balls by Caribbean left-hander Hughes on his first-class debut.

The 19-year-old from Anguillla hit nine fours and a six to dominate a ninth-wicket stand of 72 in 12 overs with Groenewald, more than doubling their score.

But the introduction of spin accounted for Groenewald as he skied Shaun Udal's fifth ball to deep. And last man Mark Footitt was then yorked for a fourth ball duck by Murtagh who, like Gareth Berg, took two wickets.

Having been bottom this time last week, Middlesex now climb to third in the Division Two table, just two points behind second-placed Derbyshire, having followed up last week's surprise win over leaders Sussex.

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