In what is only his second LV County Championship match of the season on account of Indian Premier League and England duty, Owais Shah made the sort of hundred that will interest England’s selectors if back-up is required in this summer’s Ashes series.

While batting conditions were favourable once the ball lost its hardness, Shah’s 159 in five-and-a-half hours was an accomplished innings against persistent and disciplined bowling. That explains why Middlesex never got close to scoring at three an over.

While Billy Godleman took 71 balls to reach double figures, Shah still played with relative freedom en route to a 141-ball hundred.

Pulling clinically and driving classily, he dominated a second-wicket stand of 157 in 56 overs with Godleman, who was dropped on seven at second slip off Alex Tudor. Shah was himself caught at second slip.

Andre Nel, the culprit when Godleman was missed, persevered hard on a dry pitch with excellent carry that was used for a Twenty20 game last Friday. The South African had made an early breakthrough in his fourth over when he had Nick Compton leg-before, half-forward to a ball that came back down the slope.

Shah, like Godleman, did little more than see off a new ball that was skilfully used by Nel and Chris Jordan, the latter’s first nine overs costing only ten runs. Alex Tudor, however, dropped short too often, allowing Shah to pull with disdain. Although he later managed to run out Godleman and hold a sharp low catch to dismiss Shah, Walters could make no impression with his medium pace.

When Surrey belatedly reverted to the three spinners they had picked, including Simon King, a 21-year old off-spinner making his debut, Shah played them all with ease. King started tidily but was not allowed to settle by Shah, who used his feet well and played with soft hands. Murtaza Hussain nevertheless beat Neil Dexter in the flight when he came the wicket to drill a drive straight into mid-on’s hands.

In taking two late wickets with the second new ball, Surrey put a much better gloss on a long, hot day in the field. Nel removed Shah at an important time, leading to the exposure of a nightwatchman, Steve Finn. What the very last ball of the day, Jordan trapped him leg before half forward.

Middlesex: First Innings
B A Godleman run out 48
N R D Compton lbw b Nel 2
O A Shah c Walters b Nel 159
N J Dexter c Tudor b Hussain 14
D J Malan not out 32
S T Finn lbw b Jordan 5
Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 1, nb 4) 9
Total (5 wkts, 96 overs) 269
†D C Nash, G K Berg, *S D Udal, M Kartik and C E W Silverwood to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-160, 3-186, 4-259, 5-269.
Bowling: Nel 21-8-36-2; Jordan 20-7-56-1; Tudor 15-2-50-0; Walters 5-1-14-0; King 11-0-37-0; Hussain 19-1-60-1; Afzaal 5-1-12-0.

Surrey: M J Brown, †J N Batty, M R Ramprakash, *M A Butcher, U Afzaal, S J Walters, A J Tudor, C J Jordan, Murtaza Hussain, A Nel, S J King.

Umpires: M R Benson and B Dudleston.