da betsson： A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership, in which both Owais Shah and BenHutton scored centuries, saw Middlesex gain a commanding position by the endof the first day of their CricInfo Championship match against Derbyshire atSouthgate
Norman de Mesquita30-May-2001A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership, in which both Owais Shah and BenHutton scored centuries, saw Middlesex gain a commanding position by the endof the first day of their CricInfo Championship match against Derbyshire atSouthgate.Winning the toss and batting first in ideal conditions – an easy-paced pitchand a lightning-fast outfield – Middlesex did not get the best of starts,although the first wicket did put on 55 before Andy Strauss went for 33. ButMike Roseberry and Stephen Fleming soon followed, with all three wicketsfalling to Tom Lungley in a spell of 3-3 in 18 balls.At 62 for 3, Middlesex were hardly in a position of strength but Derbyshirehad to wait another 82 overs before their next success, while thefourth-wicket pair prospered against a less than taxing attack. Tim Munton,captaining Derbyshire in the absence on test duty of Dominic Cork, triedseven bowlers but not another wicket fell until Munton himself took the newball and had Hutton caught at first slip for a career-best 139.It was the young left-hander’s first Championship hundred and he reached itby pulling Richard Illingworth for six. It was one of three he hit in hisinnings, which also included 17 fours.Shah, scoring his second century in three matches, struck 23 fours and was141 not out at the close with Middlesex on 358 for four and no doubt hoping toadd many more runs on the second day.