By Neil Hallam at Derby
First day of four: Derbys (135-3) trail Middx (195) by 60 runs
ADRIAN Rollins poured the frustration of two months of enforced inactivity into an assertive batting performance to reinforce the position of strength established by Derbyshire's seamers against a Middlesex side for which the end of the season cannot come soon enough. Prospects Rollins was not expected to play again this season when he was stricken by a 'degenerative spinal disc problem' in early July and looked understandably rusty when he re-emerged in the NatWest Trophy final two weeks ago.
In only his second championship innings since then, however, he was at his most powerful and positive with an unbeaten 85 as Derbyshire recovered from a poor start to reach 135 for three, only 60 in arrears.
Rollins reached his half century with an edge past slip and collected one of his 10 fours with a top-edged hook to third man, but otherwise avoided the misjudgments which cost Michael May, Robin Weston and Matt Cassar their wickets.
Derbyshire's decision to bowl first on a slow seamer was vindicated as Middlesex capsized in only 63 overs with Mike Gatting, clapped all the way to the middle in his last game prior to retirement from the first-class game, soon making the return trip to more muted applause having been Kevin Dean's 68th victim of the season.
Day 2: Gatting's last stand
By Neil Hallam at Derby
Second day of four: Middx (195 & 38-2) trail Derbys (383) by 150 runs
MIKE GATTING, who has spent most of his 24 seasons of county cricket in pursuit of honours, may have to devote the final innings of his first-class career to the task of sparing Middlesex from heavy defeat.
When bad light ended play 18 overs early they were struggling after an acquiescent performance in the field let Derbyshire collect maximum batting points.
David Goodchild jabbed to short leg and Keith Kettleborough was lbw going across rather than forward as Derbyshire's seamers found movement where Middlesex's attack had found frustration in a slow pitch.
Adrian Rollins, 85 overnight, was caught down the leg side after only three balls, but Kim Barnett provided some middle-order ballast before Dominic Cork made his third successive championship half-century and Karl Krikken added his third of the summer.
The hang-dog look of Middlesex's supporters turned to smiles only twice: when the third ball of Gatting's first over of the season dislodged Cork and when news of Surrey's collapse at the Oval was announced.
Day 3: Century sign-off denied
By Neil Hallam at Derby
Derbys 383 v Middlesex 195& 300-5
IT WAS somehow inevitable and appropriate that lunch should prove to be Mike Gatting's downfall in the final innings of a first-class career spanning 24 seasons, more than 36,000 runs and several zillion calories-worth of free team meals.
It was not, however, a surfeit of pie in the dining room but a moment of inattention when facing the first ball after lunch which prevented Gatting from signing off with a 95th first-class century when he was pinned in front by Dominic Cork.
``My fault,'' said Gatting. ``One minute I was looking down at the crease and preparing to take strike. The next I was looking up to find Corky half way to the wicket. I should have backed out but I tried to play when I wasn't really set and that was that l.b.plonk. Very irritating.''
The 41-year-old former England captain was applauded all the way to the wicket when Middlesex, 150 behind at the start, lost Andy Strauss in the third over of the morning, and was given a ``guard of honour'' by his team-mates when he returned to the dressing room to a prolonged standing ovation from crowd and opposition.
A typically pugnacious 62 had dominated a stand of 103 with Owais Shah, sparing Middlesex the ignominy of ending a depressing season with an innings defeat and granting Gatting the personal satisfaction of proving that while he may have been clapped in, he remained far from clapped out.
``Nobody would have begrudged Gatt a century, least of all me,'' said Derbyshire's Kim Barnett. ``I'm a huge fan. Gatt is one of the old school of tough cricketers who can take it as well as dish it out and there aren't many left. No excuses. No moaning. No bullshit. Just talent and character. And a superb bloke off the field into the bargain.''