Derbys just fail with victory bid

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Uxbridge:
Derbyshire 401-5 dec and 281-2 dec drew with Middlesex 353-9 dec & 259-9 (Derbys 12pts, Middx 9pts)

Match scorecard

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Smith took 5-65 as Derbyshire pressed for victory

Promotion-chasing Derbyshire narrowly failed in their victory bid at Uxbridge as Middlesex's last pair held on in a tense finale to force a draw.

A four-wicket burst from South African Greg Smith looked to have set up a Derbyshire victory as Middlesex collapsed from 135-2 to 149-7.

But injured teenager Adam London rescued Middlesex with 65, his second half-century in only his fourth game.

And, although Smith finished with 5-65, the rest of the Middlesex tail rallied.

It was a career-best from off-spinner Smith, but Derbyshire were left frustrated.

After completing his fifth century of the season in the morning, Derbyshire skipper Chris Rogers took a bold gamble when he set Middlesex a target of 330 to win off a minimum of 75 overs, which looked to have paid off.

But 20-year-old London, who broke and dislocated the little finger on his right hand fielding on the second day, did the damage.

Together with ninth-wicket partner Tim Murtagh, he batted out 21 overs to help salvage four more points in the hosts' bid to avoid finishing bottom of the table for the first time in their 145-year history.

London was finally dismissed with 16 balls remaining, leg before to be Smith's final victim.

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

Rogers' men now meet go into their promotion decider against second-placed Essex at Derby next week, trailing by 10 points.

Essex got home with a last-over victory over Northants at Chelmsford to leapfrog their visitors into second and set up a tense final round of games.