Harvey Hosein and Leus du Plooy struck half-centuries on a good Day Three for Derbyshire against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Luis Reece (4-61) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (3-65) combined to take the remaining five Middlesex wickets on the penultimate day of the season, with the hosts making 260 in the first innings.
Hosein (56 not out) and du Plooy (55 not out) will resume on the final day of the season, with Derbyshire 199-4, trailing by 61.
Reece got Derbyshire off to a strong start on Day Three, trapping both Dawid Malan (72) and Tony Roland-Jones lbw in the opening session of the day.
Hudson-Prentice struck three times in as many overs to bring the Middlesex innings to an end on the third day, with the hosts putting together a lead of 260.
Billy Godleman and Reece started the Derbyshire innings in positive fashion, putting on 49 runs in less than ten overs, before the latter was out to Bamber lbw for 26.
Wayne Madsen arrived the crease, but he was trapped lbw by Bamber first ball, as Derbyshire fell to 49-2 after ten overs, still trailing by 250 runs.
Godleman (27) passed 1,000 county championship runs for the season in the innings, but he could not replicate the form that has seen him score centuries in each of his last two first-class matches, as he was caught by Malan off Roland-Jones.
Alex Hughes (20) and du Plooy put on 48 runs for the fourth wicket, before the former’s resistance was broken when he was caught by Miguel Cummins off Tim Murtagh shortly before tea.
Hosein accelerated his scoring after the interval, reaching his half-century in 80 balls, including six fours, while du Plooy reached 50 shortly after.
Bad light brought and end to the day’s play, with Hosein unbeaten on 56 and du Plooy not out on 55 as Derbyshire head into the final day of the season 199-4, trailing by 61.
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