Middlesex's hopes of breaking their LV County Championship duck were ended by the weather as rain condemned their game at Derby to a draw.

The visitors had a chance of claiming a first four-day win of the season after Derbyshire set a target of 280 in a minimum of 68 overs.

Rain just after lunch left Middlesex with only 50 overs to get the runs but they were still on course with first-innings centurion Owais Shah again in commanding form.

The England batsman had scored 23 off 13 balls and, with Nick Compton going well on 62, Middlesex were 121 for one from 24 overs when the rain returned at 4.30pm.

With no prospect of conditions improving, the game was abandoned at 5pm with both sides taking eight points.

It was a disappointing end to a day that had started with both sides fancying their chances of victory.

Derbyshire had the incentive of knowing a victory would take them back to the top of Division Two and they quickly built on their lead of 159.

Wayne Madsen and Dan Redfearn added 61 in 15 overs before Redfearn went for 43, sweeping Shaun Udal into the hands of wide midwicket.

Madsen followed his debut century at Cheltenham last week with 71 but fell to an excellent diving catch by Shah when he tried to reverse sweep Udal.

Steven Finn picked up three wickets as Derbyshire pressed the accelerator in search of a declaration, which came when Tim Groenewald was caught behind with the total on 258.

That left Middlesex needing to score at just above four an over, although the asking rate climbed to more than five after the first hold-up for rain.

But Compton and Sam Robson gave their side an excellent start by scoring 64 from 16 overs before tea.

Derbyshire had rarely threatened to break through on a pitch that had become a good one for batting but a smart piece of fielding by skipper Chris Rogers sent Robson back for 29 when he was beaten by a direct hit from point.

The openers had put on 86 in 20 overs and Shah kept Middlesex on track with some glorious strokes.

He pulled Groenewald effortlessly for six and came down the pitch to the left-arm spin of Graham Wagg to loft him down the ground for four.

With Compton well set on 62 from 72 balls, it was Middlesex who looked likely winners when the black clouds rolled in to send the players back to the pavilion for the last time.

The result means Derbyshire are five points behind leaders Kent and remain unbeaten at home in the championship since September 2007.