Derbyshire 79 for 3 (Higgins 2-18) vs Middlesex
Ryan Higgins again delivered for Middlesex on another rain affected day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Derbyshire at the OurCoop County Ground.
After the opening day washout, Higgins exploited helpful conditions to take two wickets in the morning session before more rain meant only three more balls were bowled in the day.
The experienced all-rounder returned outstanding figures of 2 for 18 from 11 overs, six of them maidens, to leave Derbyshire on 79 for 3 with Caleb Jewell unbeaten on 32 off 83 balls.
A green pitch and cloud cover suggested conditions were good for bowling so it was no surprise Middlesex opted to put Derbyshire in.
There was some seam movement for Toby Roland-Jones and Higgins but it was a loose shot that provided the visitors with the breakthrough.
A change of bowling from the Racecourse End paid off with Harry Came launching into a big drive at Tom Helm's fourth delivery to be caught by Joe Cracknell diving to his right.
But that was their only success for 18 overs as Jewell, in his last game before returning to Australia, and Matthew Montgomery batted patiently until Higgins swung the session back towards Middlesex.
He had beaten the bat numerous times and seen a couple of lbw appeals rejected but he eventually got his reward for maintaining a consistent line and length when Motngomery was drawn into playing at one that shaped away to give Cracknell another diving catch.
The next ball was full which lured Wayne Madsen into a drive which he inside edged into his stumps, his second duck in consecutive innings.
Jewell and former Middlesex all-rounder Martin Andersson negotiated three overs before lunch but that proved to be the last of the action for the next four hours.
A thunderstorm towards the end of the interval wiped out the afternoon session but after sterling work from the groundstaff, the match was able to restart at 17.10 with 24 overs left in the day.
But as the players took the field, the weather was already closing in and Helm sent down only three balls to Jewell before the rain started and play was called off shortly afterwards.
With heavy rain forecast tomorrow (Saturday), it is a blow to both teams who are still in with a chance of promotion in what is building up to be a thrilling climax to the championship season in Division Two.
