Middlesex were well placed to register their first victory of the season in the LV County Championship after Shaun Udal produced an excellent spell of 14-6-19-3. Having been set 299 to win on a pitch offering turn and bounce, the home side slumped to 123 for five.

Yet, Essex had made a good start to their pursuit, reaching 70 without loss after Middlesex had used the new ball poorly. For the second time in the match, however, Vernon Philander trapped Alastair Cook leg-before with movement back in. If the important wicket of Jason Gallian came courtesy of a questionable umpiring decision, there was nothing controversial about Shaun Udal's double-wicket maiden. Both Tom Westley and Mark Pettini fell to bat-pad catches, the latter's dismissal leaving both captains without a run in this match. Ryan ten Doeschate then cut Udal straight to point.

David Nash and Tim Murtagh also played key parts for Middlesex. When they came together at 133 for seven, the lead was only 228, but their partnership of 70 in 18 overs took the game away from Essex. Both were dropped early on.

When play began, the match was nicely poised with Middlesex tottering at 19 for three. The first hour was likely to be vital with Andre Nel, so dangerous the evening before, fresh and armed with a newish ball. The South Africa fast bowler was thwarted, however, by Billy Godleman, whose gutsy 28 was worth much more than its face value. The teenager had to endure a barrage of short-pitched balls, not to mention some continuous invective, from Nel, who hit him on the helmet as well as the body.

Although Godleman eventually fell to James Middlebrook's off-spin, he had drawn the sting from Nel in a dogged stay of more than two hours. With the heat rising to the high 20s , Nel tired as the day wore on, a factor that helped Nash and Murtagh in their crucial stand.

With Chris Wright only being entrusted with two overs in Middlesex's second innings (and 11 in the match), Essex were effectively a specialist seam bowler short. Nor was Middlebrook as effective as in the first innings. Although Tony Palladino took the last three wickets in one over, the damage had been done, a target of 299 on a sporting pitch looking out of reach.

Middlesex: First Innings 302 (A J Strauss 88, E C Joyce 66; J D Middlebrook 5 for 69, R N ten Doeschate 4 for 75)

Second Innings (overnight 19-3)

B A Godleman c Foster b Middlebrook 28
E C Joyce lbw b Palladino 9
E J G Morgan c Wright b Middlebrook 25
D C Nash not out 50
V D Philander c Palladino b Ten Doeschate 20
T J Murtagh c Foster b Palladino 42
S T Finn c Pettini b Palladino 0
D Evans c Gallian b Palladino 0

Extras (b 8, lb 5, nb 4) 17

Total (65.5 overs)203

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-18, 4-29, 5-79, 6-84, 7-133, 8-203, 9-203.

Bowling: Nel 20-6-38-3; Palladino 13.5-3-29-4; Ten Doeschate 13-1-53-1; Wright 2-0-8-0; Middlebrook 17-2-62-2.

Essex: First Innings 207 (T Westley 60, J E R Gallian 56; D Evans 6 for 35)

Second Innings

J E R Gallian c Strauss b T J Murtagh 40
A N Cook lbw b Philander 31
V Chopra not out 17
T Westley c Smith b Udal 1
*M L Pettini c Godleman b Udal 0
R N ten Doeschate c Finn b Udal 18
A P Palladino not out 0

Extras (b 6, lb 7, w 1, nb 2) 16

Total (5 wkt, 40 overs) 123

Fall of wickets: 1-70, 2-83, 3-84, 4-84, 5-118.

Bowling: Philander 13-2-26-1; Finn 4-0-21-0; Evans 2-0-20-0; Udal 14-6-20-3; T J Murtagh 7-2-23-1.

Umpires: B Dudleston and V A Holder.