David Nash and Tim Murtagh, both of whom have allegiances to Surrey, ply their trade in another part of the metropolis. The wicketkeeper, who in the modern way can bat pugnaciously, made 96 and the all-rounder, considered a one-day cricketer at the Brit Oval, took three quick wickets, giving their adopted county a distinct advantage over Glamorgan on another rain-affected day.

Nash, born in Surrey, struck 13 fours, sharing a partnership of 62 with Gareth Berg, an all-rounder from South Africa who was spotted in club cricket last year by John Emburey, the former Middlesex coach. He made 33 on his first-class debut and looked a useful enough medium pacer, coming on after Glamorgan had been reduced by Murtagh to 26 for three.

Murtagh had Matthew Wood, another making his debut, leg-before first ball. He then bowled David Hemp and had Gareth Rees taken by Nash. He looked to be a yard quicker than at times last year and was accurate in conditions that gave him little assistance.

Between them, Nash and Murtagh represent the modern face of the game in London. The former, who found some form in the Parks at the very start of the season, bore responsibility yesterday for ensuring a sizeable total was achieved after an indifferent start on the first day. To that end, he shepherded the tail to some degree, although the lower order is a useful one, including as it does Murtagh, who made 22 before David Harrison had him leg-before, driving, and Shaun Udal, who was held at square leg off Jason Gillespie.

Gillespie, still trim but greying now, had one commendable spell yesterday of 10-7-11-1 and finished with that second wicket. He did not, though, bowl with quite the nip of Murtagh, who took the new ball in the absence of Alan Richardson, who was injured, and in preference of Steve Finn. By the close, though, Michael Powell, thankfully recovered from serious illness, was prospering nicely and collecting runs all around the wicket. He had made an unbeaten 45 from 61 balls with six fours.

Middlesex: First Innings (overnight 198-5)

D C Nash c Wood b Wharf 96
G K Berg c Watkins b Croft 33
T J Murtagh lbw b Harrison 22
S D Udal c Rees b Gillespie 5
C E W Silverwood c Rees b Watkins 16
S T Finn not out 3

Extras (lb 8, w 2, nb 10) 20

Total (97.5 overs) 308

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-74, 3-82, 4-95, 5-168, 6-230, 7-263, 8-274, 9-304.

Bowling: Gillespie 26-11-56-2; Harrison 23-5-63-2; Watkins 23-6-76-3; Wharf 12.5-1-66-2; Dalrymple 6-0-26-0; Croft 7-0-13-1.

Glamorgan: First Innings

G P Rees c Nash b Murtagh 13
M J Wood lbw b Murtagh 0
*D L Hemp b Murtagh 8
M J Powell not out 45
J W M Dalrymple not out 15

Extras (lb 1, w 1, nb 2) 4

Total (3 wkts, 23 overs) 85

M A Wallace, A G Wharf, R D B Croft, J N Gillespie, R E Watkins and D S Harrison to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-17, 3-26.

Bowling: Silverwood 8-1-24-0; Murtagh 7-2-25-3; Berg 4-0-19-0; Finn 4-0-16-0.

Umpires: S A Garratt and N J Llong.