Lord’s club lost by 101 runs at the 3aaa County Ground

Head coach Richard Scott believes a depleted Middlesex can be proud of their efforts at Derbyshire in their County Championship Division Two match, despite losing by 101 runs.

The Lord’s-based club succumbed to their first defeat of the season, despite a strong rearguard effort at the 3aaa County Ground.

Middlesex began the final day 86-3, chasing 442, but slumped to 166-7 to see any hopes of winning all but evaporate.

Solid batting displays from Toby Roland-Jones (46), James Harris (64 not out) and Tom Helm (52) saw the Lord’s club take the game into the final hour, before Derbyshire eventually wrapped up the win.

Middlesex will likely be disappointed with the defeat, but Scott admits it was always likely to be tough for his team after collapsing 157 all out in their first innings.

“We said halfway through the game it was backs against the wall,” said Scott.

“We didn’t bat well enough in the first innings and we didn’t bowl well enough having had them 170-7, so we were really keen as a unit to fight hard and that’s what we’ve done over the last couple of days.

“It was a brilliant effort by the mid to lower order in forging those partnerships to take the game into the last hour.

“I’m really proud of the lads given the injuries we’ve got, the bowlers we’ve got down and obviously the batsmen we’ve got missing too.”

• Additional reporting by Nigel Gardner.