Derbyshire tasted victory for the first time since May 13th when they beat Middlesex by 42 runs at Derby.

Batting was never easy on a slow pitch and Middlesex were bowled out for 154 with 28 balls to spare in reply to the home side's 196-7.

A typically well paced half-century from Rob Bailey and some powerful strokes from the lower order gave Derbyshire a challenging total and they defended it skilfully.

The bowling was tight and the fielding keen and Middlesex, handicapped by an injury to Stephen Fleming, faded away aftger a middle-order collapse.

Alex Edwards, signed because of injuries to four pace bowlers, did well against the county he spent last season with and ended with figures of 1-25 from nine overs on his Derbyshire debut.

But it was the spinners who did the damage with left armer Lain Wharton bowling particularly well to take 2-23 from his nine overs.

By the time Fleming, who dislocated a finger fielding, came in, his side were 94-6 and although the New Zealand skipper played some defiant strokes, Derbyshire were always in control.

Fleming fell to a fine running catch at long off by Chris Bassano and when Angus Fraser holed out in the deep, it brought to an end a run of ten games without a win for Derbyshire.

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