A century for Nick Compton lifted Middlesex to the top of the Pro40 Division Two as they beat Derbyshire by 50 runs at Uxbridge.

Middlesex, in danger of finishing bottom of the LV County Championship for the first time in their 145-year history, found relief from their miserable form in the four-day game by taking first place from Kent, who slipped to defeat to Warwickshire.

Compton struck an outstanding 107 to take the Panthers to 242 for six and Derbyshire never threatened to overhaul that as they were bowled out for 192.

Middlesex, put in to bat, got off to a good start after a let-off in the second over, when Dawid Malan was dropped at slip by Chris Rogers on one.

He and Compton took advantage to put on 83 for the first wicket before Malan was run out for 32 at the non-striker's end as he tried to pinch a quick single.

Neil Dexter, scorer of centuries in both innings of the Championship match against Kent last week, kept up the momentum. He too was dropped - on 21 at long on by Garry Park - before playing on to Greg Smith for 31 at 148 for two.

Compton, though, was making flawless progress towards his second Pro40 League century of the season and reached three figures in the 35th over, off 112 balls with eight fours.

With such a solid base and plenty of wickets in hand, Middlesex chanced their arm in the final five overs.

Compton was bowled by Steffan Jones attempting an extravagant reverse sweep to make it 212 for three. John Simpson, Gareth Berg and Tyron Henderson soon followed, with Jones and Park taking two wickets each.

Though they had never cut loose at any stage, the Panthers' steady accumulation helped them set a challenging total and the pressure told on Derbyshire as they lost their first four wickets for 56 in 15 overs.

Eighteen-year-old Anguillan Chesney Hughes was promoted to open the innings but was lbw to Tim Murtagh for three in the fifth over.

Steven Finn made the big breakthrough when he had Phantoms captain Rogers, who scored an unbeaten century against Leicestershire on Friday, caught behind for 28.

Two wickets in seven balls for Gareth Berg, having Smith caught in the covers and Park caught behind, left Derbyshire in deep trouble.

Though Dan Redfern made 32 and Tim Groenewald 31 not out, they were well behind the required scoring rate and, with leg-spinner Kabir Toor taking a wicket on his debut, Middlesex wrapped up their win in 37.4 overs.