If Andrew Strauss is short of runs, then Monty Panesar is as undercooked as a Frenchman's steak before the first Test against South Africa beginning a week tomorrow at Lord's. Panesar has been out of rhythm and wicketless through this match and was repeatedly hit out of the attack as Middlesex again rebuilt so well that they have given themselves a chance of victory. But after another day of glorious sunshine, heavy rain is forecast for today.

Eoin Morgan fell seven short of a first championship century, edging a drive in the penultimate over before tea. Middlesex looked like they would be in big trouble at 234 for seven, 197 ahead. But a career-best, chanceless, 141 not out from 178 balls by Ben Scott, the wicketkeeper and fine support from the tail, gave all the momentum to Middlesex. Always a strong puller, he cover-drove and straight-drove with increasing fluency.

Johan van der Wath looked as if he would bowl Northamptonshire to victory yesterday. After taking five for 68 in the first innings, he had figures of 10-5-13-5 when he came around the wicket and had Ed Joyce caught behind fencing in the third over after lunch. Middlesex were 98 for five and only 61 ahead.

Van der Wath, the 30-year-old from Natal, who played ten one-day internationals for South Africa from 2006-07, bowled with greater pace, controlled swing and luck than any other bowler in the game. But Nicky Boje, the Northamptonshire captain, took him off in 43rd over and, strangely, did not bring him back until the 81st. Van der Wath took the new ball, was hit for 28 off three overs and taken out of the attack.

The surface offered Panesar little assistance, but there was no snap to his action. Shaun Udal lofted him for six over mid-off and then four over mid-on - so far, he has no wicket for 120 runs in 33 overs in this match. It is perhaps not surprising. Since bowling only 11 overs in England's innings defeat of New Zealand in the third npower Test that finished on June 8, Panesar has bowled a mere six overs, taking one wicket for 59 runs, in three Twenty20 matches for his county. He played in a Northamptonshire second XI 50-overs match in Milton Keynes last Wednesday, taking one for 52 from ten overs.

Middlesex: First Innings 340 (D J Malan 132 not out, E J G Morgan 66, B J M Scott 50; J J van der Wath 5 for 68)

Second Innings (overnight 4-2)

B A Godleman c O'Brien b Van der Wath 13

O A Shah b Van der Wath 12

*E C Joyce c O'Brien b Van der Wath 38

E J G Morgan c O'Brien b Louw 93

D J Malan c R A White b Klusener 1

†B J M Scott not out 141

T J Murtagh run out 33

S D Udal not out 26

Extras (b 6, lb 8, w 2) 16

Total (8 wkts, 99 overs) 377

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-33, 4-35, 5-98, 6-105, 7-234, 8-307.

Bowling: Van der Wath 16-5-55-5; Lucas 14-2-38-0; Louw 18-2-72-1; Boje 9-0-47-0; Panesar 21-3-76-0; Klusener 18-3-50-1; S P Crook 3-0-25-0.

Northamptonshire: First Innings 377 (R A White 127, S D Peters 56)

Umpires: B Dudleston and D J Millns.