By Jeremy Horne
September 11 2002

WE DID IT! Middlesex secured promotion with a nail-biting 73 run victory over Derbyshire, thanks to fine bowling performances from Phil Tufnell and Ashley Noffke. Derbyshire began the day positively, moving to 124-1 in pursuit of their 306 target. Di Venuto had passed 50 and was looking dangerous. Middlesex needed some inspiration and it came from Phil Tufnell who first removed Chris Bassano before taking Di Venuto’s prize scalp. Dominic Hewson and Steve Selwood then took Derbyshire to lunch without further alarm, reaching 154-3. After Lunch, Ashley Noffke removed Hewson and Luke Sutton, whilst Tufnell took the wicket of Selwood to leave Derbyshire 167-6. However, it wasn’t quite over as a stand of 53 between Graeme Welch and Jason Kerr threatened to bring Derbyshire back into the match. It wasn’t to be and when Ashley Noffke bowled Welch, the remaining wickets fell quickly, including the most important one:

Ali c Hutton b Noffke 8

That was it. We were up.

We now eagerly await the conclusion of this week’s matches and next week’s games to see if we can be promoted as champions, but for now.

WE DID IT!

To top it all off, Derbyshire were also deducted 8 points for producing a poor pitch. They will not be appealing against the decision.

Middlesex 1st innings: 292 (Weekes 88, Koenig 72, Dean 6-59)

Derbyshire 1st innings: 137 (Bassano 49, Noffke 8-24)

Middlesex 2nd innings: 150 (Alleyne 49*, Kerr 4-32, Dean 4-66)

Derbyshire 2nd innings: (Target: 306)

Gait c Tufnell b Cook 0
Di Venuto b Tufnell 71
Bassano c Weston b Tufnell 44
Hewson c Alleyne b Noffke 15
Selwood c Noffke b Tufnell 14
Sutton c Hutton b Noffke 1
Kerr b Tufnell 28
Welch b Noffke 23
Ali c Hutton b Noffke 8
Dean c Hutton b Tufnell 0
Wharton not out 0

Extras 28

Total (all out, 75.3 overs) 232

Result: Middlesex win by 73 runs
Points: Middlesex 17, Derbyshire -5!