LORD'S (day 3 of 4): Glamorgan won toss

Middlesex 56-0 and 308 Glamorgan 300 (JWM Dalrymple 80, TJ Murtagh 7-95)

Lunch

Jamie Dalrymple, who left Middlesex in acrimonious circumstances last year, made an unbeaten half century off 105 balls with seven fours against them upon his return to Lord's.

He drove fluently, keeping the ball down against some testing pace bowling from Steve Finn and the off spin of Shaun Udal, who also moved counties during the winter. Michael Powell had completed a half century of his own earlier in the session, made off 75 balls with six fours, but later that same over was caught by David Nash off the bowling of Finn. Dalrymple soon passed his highest score of last season, 57.

Tea

Tim Murtagh, the all rounder who joined Middlesex in search of more first-class cricket, took his sixth wicket of Glamorgan's innings shortly before tea when he had Jason Gillespie caught behind the wicket. He had previously dismissed Mark Wallace through Owais Shah holding a fine low catch at second slip.

Gareth Berg, the South African medium pacer, took his first wicket for the county when he had Robert Croft leg before with one that cut back. This after Jamie Dalrymple, who was unbeaten with 69 at lunch, had reached 80 off 144 balls with ten fours. He was finally out when he attempted to hook Steve Finn and was held by Murtagh, whose figures at tea were not far off the best of his career.

Close

Tim Murtagh, obtaining some movement through the air away from the right hander, returned the best figures of his career, seven for 95, with the aid of some decent close-to-the-wicket catching. His desire to establish himself as a first-class all rounder as opposed to the one day specialist he was perceived to be in his Surrey days has manifested itself in this match.

Middlesex, who were lacking the injured Chris Silverwood, struggled to rid themselves of Glamorgan's tail enders but gained a first innings lead of eight runs, which they extended to 64 through the watchful batting of Andrew Strauss and Billy Godleman before the close.