Middlesex batsman Max Holden admitted it felt special to score his first century for the club at Lord’s on Wednesday.

Holden finished unbeaten on 119 as the hosts made 423 against Derbyshire in their County Championship Division Two encounter.

The visitors closed on 222-6 in reply and Holden, who scored his maiden first-class hundred while on loan at Northamptonshire last season, said: “This first century for Middlesex at Lord’s will take some beating for me.

“Obviously, the centuries for Northants last year were important in terms of getting early ones on the board in first-class cricket, but the big one for me was the Middlesex one and to get it at Lord’s is a special moment.”

Holden began the day unbeaten on 96, but saw Ethan Bamber dismissed early and last man Tim Murtagh survive a worrying moment, before a rain delay held up his finally reaching three figures.

The 10th-wicket pair then put on 66, a Middlesex record against Derbyshire, and Holden added: “Tim Murtagh and I wanted to play it normally as if it was any other game and take it ball by ball. There was no point in putting extra pressure on myself.

“The rain made it a bit frustrating as I jus wanted to get out there and get on strike, but I was fairly confident it would work out in the end.

“I didn’t know about the 10th-wicket record so that’s pleasing. It is good fun batting with Murts. He was telling me to give him the strike after I got to 100 so he could take the bowlers on a bit!”

Bamber (3-35) bagged two early wickets in reply as Derbyshire slipped to 62-4, before recovering thanks to an unbeaten 87 from Matthew Critchley.