Andrew Strauss looked every inch an England opening batsman again last night as he put his poor form behind him to set Middlesex on course for a win that would lift them into a promising position in the second division.
Middlesex were set 282 to win after Derbyshire were bowled out for 199, with Murali Kartik, the former India left-arm spinner, taking five for 38, and Strauss stroking an unbeaten 47.
Derbyshire started the day 89 ahead, with all their second-innings wickets in hand, but Steve Stubbings was caught behind off Chris Silver-wood, Michael Dighton played on against Alan Richardson and Phil Weston pulled Richardson to mid-wicket.
Travis Birt became Kartik’s first victim and, when Simon Katich, the Derbyshire captain, who scored a determined 68, was bowled by Tim Murtagh, Middlesex were sensing victory.
Ant Botha was bowled in Murtagh’s next over, Tom Poynton, the 17-year-old wicketkeeper, edged Kartik to bag a pair on his debut and Greg Smith survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Richardson before he had scored and went on to make an unbeaten 54. Graham Wagg joined him in an eighth-wicket stand of 70 before Kartik grabbed three wickets for three runs in nine balls.