NORTHAMPTON

(Day one of four: Northampton won toss)

Middlesex 291-1 (68.1 overs, AJ Strauss 164 not out, OA Shah 69 not out, WA Godleman 41)

Lunch

In a major fire, a carpet warehouse blazed all night on the edge of Northampton and fumes still hung in the air as play began. Whether it was the effect of this or of lack of focus in an end-of-season "dead" match, error abounded in the first session.

Inserting Middlesex, Northamptonshire conceded four wides in the opening hour, sprayed the ball with abandon and dropped Billy Godleman from a comfortable chance to third slip off David Wigley before he had scored. Godleman then put on Middlesex's best opening stand of the season in passing 85 with Andrew Strauss until stumped from Monty Panesar's 13th ball for 41 when attempting to sweep.

Strauss had already reached fifty from 77 balls by then and maintained a scoring rate in excess of four per over with Owais Shah until lunch, reached with Middlesex heavily on top.

With Northamptonshire's contingent of South African mercenaries given the game off in the absence of anything more to play for than pride, their side showed three changes from the draw in the championship against Essex.

Lance Klusener, who declined the chance to make a farewell appearance, Andrew Hall and Johann Van der Wath, who is already in South Africa, made way for Mark Nelson, Steven Crook and David Wigley. It was Crook's fourth appearance of the campaign and, on his 22nd birthday, only the third of Nelson's championship career.

For their part, Middlesex madeone change from the side that beat Worcestershire in the championship last Friday. Dawid Malan was indisposed by a fractured hand bone but Ed Joyce returned from his finger injury.

Tea

As Strauss continued to his second century in three innings, from 135 balls, and then passed 150 off only 52 more, Middlesex equalled their best partnership for any wicket in the championship campaign this year. With Owais Shah equally comfortable against wretched bowling, the pair had added an unbeaten 172 by tea.

At one stage, before Panesar was belatedly re-introduced, 101 runs had come up in one 18- over onslaught after lunch and Nicky Boje, who chose to field, even turned to Rike Wessels for the South African's first two overs in all forms of cricket, including second-eleven level. It appeared he was bowling off spin.

Certainly, like his more experienced counterparts, Wessels found no success.

Close

Only 25 balls proved possible after tea before the umpires, now the sole judges of bad light, halted further punishment to the profound relief of Northamptonshire. Strauss would have paid good money to continue his carnage.

On 164 overnight, he needs another 14 runs to establish a new career-best by overhauling the 177 he made for England against New Zealand last March in the innings that saved his Test career. The stand with Shah, Middlesex's highest of the season, has so far added 190 blithe, almost nonchalant runs.