Richard Illingworth returned his best championship figures since 1997 on another day dominated by the bowlers at Derby.

The 37-year-old slow left arm spinner took four wickets on his Derbyshire debut to send Middlesex sliding from 64-1 to 95-5 before David Nash and Mike Roseberry dug in to steer their team to 146-5 at the close, 52 behind.

Illingworth struck with his sixth delivery when he defeated Ben Hutton's forward push and although Owais Shah drove him for two fours in an over, he came back to have the England A batsman caught behind for 24.

Andrew Strauss played patiently for 38 until he gloved a pull at Graeme Welch and was ct down the leg side and in the next over, Stephen Fleming played back and was lbw.

Illingworth won another lbw appeal when Paul Weekes tried to turn the ball to leg, but Nash and Roseberry maintained their concentration through two stoppages to deny Derbyshire further success.

Another former England spinner, Phil Tufnell, also had a four wicket haul as Middlesex prevented Derbyshire taking a single batting point.

Illingworth was one of his victims as he went back and across and the innings ended when Tim Munton was caught at short leg off bat and pad.

Dominic Cork failed to get among the wickets but sent down nine overs in two spells since a back injury forced him out of England's tour of Pakistan although he was twice warned for running on the wicket by umpire Mike Harris.

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