Derbyshire v Middlesex day 1

Middlesex 251 (Hollman 48, Pettman 3-40, Dal 2-13, Reece 2-41, Watt 2-47)

Derbyshire 28-0 (Masood 27*, Godleman 1*)

Derbyshire trail by 223 runs

Derbyshire and Mickey Arthur will be very pleased with their efforts on the first day against Middlesex at delightful Queen's Park today.

Having chosen to bat this morning, the visitors were bowled out for 251 before the close, Derbyshire ending on 28-0.

There was a nice look to the attack. Two tall opening bowlers, a naggingly accurate medium-pacer, a left-arm variant, an off spinner and a slow left arm bowler. Variety - and a unit that worked very well.

Special mention for Toby Pettman, who bowled a very impressive first spell in which he could and should have had a couple of wickets, then came back and ended up with three. He ran in hard, got some steepling bounce from his 6'7 and troubled good players all day. He can be proud of his efforts, which were well-received by his team mates. 

Mark Watt bowled well too. I was impressed by the Scots spinner, who produced a beauty to dismiss the dangerous Eskinazi and had them in trouble throughout. Some may have been surprised to see him at first slip for a lot of the day, but he has a very good pair of hands and continues to impress me. 

Anuj Dal bowled an exemplary spell, taking 2-13 in fifteen overs, while Alex Thomson took a wicket thanks to a stunning catch at slip, even by Madsen standards. It was also nice to see Luis Reece getting his swing back, looking more like the player we have grown to love in the process. 

Hollman worked hard for the visitors, but wickets fell frequently throughout the day, as the ground fielding was keen, even if the catching wasn't always as it could have been. Two or three went down, of varying degrees of difficulty, but no one profited too much. 

Derbyshire had eight overs to navigate before the close and did so in relative comfort, Masood playing some trademark strokes on his way to 27 of the 28 runs scored. If he is still in at tea tomorrow the score will have rattled along. 

With the wicket turning a little on day one, we will now aim to bat and then bat some more. A last afternoon run chase may not be easy. 

Let's hope we don't need to worry about that.