Middlesex, who could clinch the Division Two title if other results go their way, closed the day on 291 for eight from 104 overs. But Derbyshire must also win their penultimate match to keep their top-flight hopes alive - and three dropped catches did nothing for their cause.

Sven Koenig was dropped on 23 by Graeme Welch at first slip and the Middlesex batsman went onto make 72; Ed Joyce was spilled on 15 by Andrew Gait at backward point and Paul Weekes was given another chance by Michael Di Venuto at second slip when on 44. Weekes went onto make a fine 88, striking 15 fours from 177 balls but Middlesex then slumped from 247 for four to their stumps score.

Rob Weston (1) was first to go, edging Dean behind to keeper Luke Sutton with just one on the board at the end of the third over and at the start of the sixth Middlesex were 10 for two, Mohammad Ali enticing Ben Hutton (4) with a short one that was top-edged to Jason Kerr at cover.

Joyce then helped get the scoreboard ticking over before he was trapped lbw moving across the wicket to hand Dean his second of the day and leave the visitors on 72 for three. But opener Koenig had by then progressed steadily onto a half-century and in partnership with left-hander Weekes lifted Middlesex onto 176 by the time Derbyshire made another breakthrough.

Koenig was adjudged leg before off one from Mohammad Ali for 72 as his fourth-wicket partnership with Weekes worth 104 was brought to an end in the 65th over. Weekes was next to go as Derbyshire refused to bow, denied his century when nicking one to Gait at first slip off Welch to leave Middlesex on 247 for five.

Welch struck again to remove James Dalrymple, who had also got himself in, but on 33 he was held by Di Venuto at second slip with the score on 254. David Alleyne (13) and Ashley Noffke (13) were both undone by Dean - snared lbw - and Simon Cook, five not out, and Chad Keegan, unbeaten on six, will resume on Thursday morning.

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