Durston and Palladino turn the tables for Derbyshire

Stumps Derbyshire 154 (Berg 4-18) and 193 for 3 (Durston 96) v Middlesex 230 (Palladino 5-39)
Scorecard

A five-wicket haul from Tony Palladino and 96 from Wes Durston put Derbyshire firmly back in their County Championship Division Two game against Middlesex at Derby.

The former Essex paceman shattered the visitors' hopes of a substantial first-innings lead with a pre-lunch spell of five wickets for 21 runs in nine overs which sent Middlesex tumbling from 119 for one to 230 all out.

Durston and Australian left-hander Usman Khawaja wiped out the arrears of 76 and although both fell in the space of four overs, Derbyshire were 117 in front at stumps on 193 for 3.

The home side had started the day with a lot to do after former Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers had taken Middlesex to within 39 of their first innings 154.

But Rogers added only four to his overnight 66 before he drove at Palladino and was caught behind by Tom Poynton, who was again deputising for Luke Sutton.

Dawid Malan went first ball as Palladino got some late movement and the seamer then brought a delivery back in his next over to bowl Neil Dexter for 8.

Dan Housego and John Simpson put their side in credit but a loose shot from the wicketkeeper sparked another clatter of wickets before the interval.

Simpson was caught at second slip aiming a back foot force at Greg Smith and Housego's measured innings was ended by another good ball from Palladino which knocked back his off stump.

Housego had faced 153 balls for his 48 and had shown an application not matched by his team mates during a session which ended with Ollie Rayner lbw to a full length ball from Palladino.

Only some firm blows from Steven Finn took Middlesex past 200 and although Wayne Madsen was run out by a direct hit from gully with only 10 on the board, the pitch had become easier for batting.

Durston passed his previous highest first-class score for Derbyshire of 69 and looked set for a century until he tried to whip Tim Murtagh through midwicket and was lbw.

He had hit 16 fours and a six, driven over midwicket off Rayner, and his stand of 147 in 36 overs with Khawaja had turned the game around.

Both batsmen had shown good judgement so it was a surprise when Khawaja tried to cut Gareth Berg and was caught at second slip five short of his first half-century in England.

Another success would have tilted the balance back to Middlesex but Chesney Hughes and Dan Redfern stood firm to leave the match finely poised.