Middlesex's middle order batsmen battled hard for two sessions but by the end of the second day's play they still needed 45 runs, with four wickets standing, to avoid the follow-on.

Much of the credit for taking the total to 273 for six at stumps goes to two partnerships, the second of which, between David Nash and Simon Cook, remained unbroken with 67, for the seventh wicket, with Nash 35 and Cook 38.

They got together after Owais Shah was dismissed in the first over after tea and Paul Weekes' wicket fell 36 runs later with the total on 206.

Having lost two wickets in a little over an hour's batting before lunch, Middlesex had lost two more in the second session of the day to reach 170 - 4 at tea. During that period Shah, having taken advantage of being dropped on five, at first slip, in the third over after lunch, went on to complete a fine unbeaten half-century.

After Nottinghamshire had removed Stephen Fleming, 14, with a simple catch at forward short leg with the total on 84 and then claimed the fourth wicket fifteen runs later, Shah had settled into a solid partnership with Paul Weekes. The two put on 71 from 131 balls as they went about their task of rebuilding the innings.

They looked for every opportunity to score but took no risks as Middlesex, at tea, still needed 148 with six wickets remaining to avoid the follow-on.

Earlier, Nottinghamshire's most impressive first innings ended after forty five minutes play this morning leaving Kevin Pietersen not out with 165.

Resuming on the overnight score of 409 for eight, Nottinghamshire hit 58 in quick time with Pietersen adding 35 to his overnight score with the help of four boundaries.

But Middlesex, having claimed one early wicket when Tim Bloomfield had Greg Smith caught behind in his second over, then allowed as many as 49 runs to be added for the last wicket. For that they would have regretted dropping Richard Stemp, second ball, before he had scored. Stemp went on to hit 22 before Bloomfield had him caught behind to finish with his first five-wicket haul of the season.

In reply to such a daunting first innings total, Middlesex had begun their innings steadily but, on 47, they lost the wicket of Andy Strauss (20) when a slash at Smith provided a catch for the wicket-keeper. Then in the last over before lunch Robin Weston, 29, went in the same manner as Strauss, off the bowling of Paul Franks and Middlesex were 57 for two. That score, in view of the visitor's huge total, had given an early indication of the difficult day that lay ahead.

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