Lord's (Day one of four, Middlesex won toss)

Middlesex 285 for five (EC Joyce 101) v Leicestershire

Lunch

On an overcast but breezy morning, Middlesex won the toss, elected to bat, got through the first hour and then put Leicestershire to the sword. Andrew Strauss was at his commanding best, driving easily on both sides of the wicket as the visitors' bowlers served up a succession of half-volleys and long hops that were just what he needed after a tough Test series.

Middlesex took 96 balls to score their first 50, but the second came in just 47 balls. Strauss was beaten a couple of times early on and Dillon du Preez was mean from the Nursery End, his first five overs going for eight runs. Nadeem Malik found some bounce from the Pavilion End.

Dan Housego, 19 playing his second Championship game, went in the fourth over, thin-edging a chest-high ball to the wicketkeeper, but Leicestershire could not sustain the pressure and Strauss took a liking to Garnett Kruger, driving two consecutive fours through the covers and then one past mid-on in one over.

Jim Allenby was even more inviting and Strauss clipped his 10th four off his legs to go to 50 off 57 balls. Ed Joyce was less fluent, but finished the session nicely, cutting two fours off Claude Henderson’s left-arm orthodox spin.

Tea

Three self-inflicted wounds by Middlesex after lunch allowed Leicestershire back into the match. Strauss went in the third over after the resumption. He came down the track to Henderson and was beaten in the flight, but went through with a different shot as the ball spun to leg and succeeded only in lifting the ball gently to square leg.

Middlesex’s momentum was not lost as Joyce upped the rate. Nadeem Malik was so convinced he had Joyce in the over after Strauss was out, that he ran down to celebrate with Paul Nixon, the wicketkeeper, without bothering to turn around and appeal. Umpire Tim Robinson was unmoved and Malik may yet be reprimanded for dissent.

Joyce responded by hitting the rest of Malik’s over for 14. Eoin Morgan, Middlesex’s best batsman, took a while to get going and then having reached 19, he guided a ball from Henderson into the hands of Ackerman at slip.

Joyce completed his first hundred of the season in determined fashion with his 14th four, a pull off Kruger. But in Kruger's next over he swished at a wide one and was caught behind.

Close

Dawid Malan and Ben Scott consolidated, albeit slowly, for Middlesex with a stand of 77 in 34 overs. But facing the second new ball Malan, stuck on 46, played on attempting a cut off Kruger.

With the light fading fast, the umpires consulted but decided to continue. Kruger, from the Pavilion End, dug the next ball in and Shaun Udal, was caught in two minds and then at point off the shoulder of his bat. He stood and stared at Tim Robinson, the umpire. It was a blow for Middlesex as Udal is the third highest run-scorer in the Championship this season with 464 at an average of 42.

Udal made his views even clearer from the balcony when the umpires offered the light without another ball having been bowled.