By Jeremy Horne
August 22 2002

Ed Joyce scored his third century of the year and the fifth of his first class career as Middlesex recovered from a terrible start to avoid the follow on and leave the match finely balanced. Derbyshire began the day by stretching their overnight 375-8 to 414, with Michael Di Venuto carrying his bat for 192 and Ashley Noffke returning 6-138.

Middlesex’s reply got off to the worst possible start as both openers and Ben Hutton fell with only 5 on the board. Things could have got much worse if Graeme Welch had held onto an edge from Owais Shah at 2nd slip to make it 5-4. However, it did not prove costly as Shah edged Welch to 1st slip just before lunch.

The rebuilding of the innings began with a stand of 54 between Paul Weekes (28) and Joyce, which was only ended when Weekes was given out to a dubious catch. The real recovery was then stemmed by David Nash (55), who, together with Joyce, added 120 for the 6th wicket. Nash was also given a lifeline when Wicket keeper Luke Sutton missed a simple stumping when the stand has barely reached 50. After Nash’s departure, Aaron Laraman joined Joyce in an unbeaten 64 stand. Joyce remains unbeaten on 126, three short of his best first class score, whilst Laraman has an impressive 32.

Derbyshire 1st innings: Derbyshire won toss

Gait lbw b Noffke 3
Di Venuto not out 192
Bassano c Joyce b Keegan 26
Pyemont c Hutton b Noffke 3
Selwood c Nash b Tufnell 21
Sutton c Nash b Noffke 32
Welch c Tufnell b Noffke 50
Lungley c Nash b Laraman 14
Ali c Weekes b Noffke 13
Dean c Nash b Noffke 23
Wharton c Hutton b Tufnell 1

Extras 36

Total (all out, 116.5 overs) 414

Middlesex 1st innings:

Strauss c Sutton b Dean 1
Koenig lbw b Dean 1
Hutton lbw b Dean 0
Shah c Gait b Welch 9
Joyce not out 126
Weekes c Di Venuto b Wharton 28
Nash b Wharton 55
Laraman not out 32

Extras 23

Total (for 6 wickets, 89 overs) 275

To bat: Noffke, Keegan, Tufnell