A magnificent 178 from Nick Compton frustrated Derbyshire and gave Middlesex a fighting chance of earning a draw from their LV County Championship match at Uxbridge.

If not for Compton's efforts and an aggressive 70 from Gareth Berg, the home side would have been in big trouble on the third day.

But Derbyshire were made to settle for a first innings lead of 48 as Middlesex declared on 353 for nine. By the close, they had stretched that advantage to 244 at 196 for two in their second innings.

Compton, who also scored a hundred in the Pro40 League meeting of the sides four days earlier, stood firm while Derbyshire chipped away at the rest of the batting order on a lifeless surface.

Hopes were raised that they would be in a position to enforce the follow-on when Neil Dexter was caught at second slip off Steffan Jones and John Simpson was caught behind trying to cut the off-spin of Greg Smith to make the score 122 for four.

With Adam London available to bat only if absolutely necessary because of a broken finger, Derbyshire were in a strong position but Berg gave Compton the support he needed as they shared a stand of 135 for the fifth wicket.

Middlesex moved beyond the follow-on target of 252 but Berg was out for 70 five runs later, hooking a catch to deep midwicket. His runs came off 74 balls and included 12 fours.

After that breakthrough, the Derbyshire bowlers worked hard to protect whatever lead they could.

Jones sent Shaun Udal's off stump tumbling for his fourth wicket on his way to figures of four for 69. Jones was in the action again as he took simple catches at mid on to send Murali Kartik and Tim Murtagh back to the pavilion.

But Compton was driving the Middlesex score ever nearer parity until, with the second new ball, he was yorked by Tim Groenewald at 349 for nine.

The 26-year-old's second Championship century of the season, 12 runs away from equalling his career best, came off 247 balls with 19 fours and two sixes.

London came to the middle to face one ball and steered it away for a boundary to give Middlesex a fourth batting point before they declared.

With far less of a first innings lead than they wanted, promotion challengers Derbyshire knew they had to score quickly if they were to have any chance of claiming a victory on the final day.

Chris Rogers and Wayne Madsen did just that. The opening pair set a new Derbyshire record for the first wicket against Middlesex with a stand of 181 in 31 overs, beating a previous best of 132, before first innings centurion Madsen was caught at long on for 89. Rogers finished 75 not out.