Middlesex enjoyed the better of the first day at Southgate in the Frizzell County Championship match featuring two of the top three sides in Division Two. Essex just about held on to prevent Middlesex running away completely, but the home side made full use of winning the toss to reach 376 for six at the close of the first day.

They lost their captain, Andrew Strauss, with only seven on the board, but his opening partner Sven Koenig went on to a century and there were solid sixties from Ben Hutton and Owais Shah. Tim Phillips had bowled Essex back into contention by taking three wickets that left Middlesex on 272 for 5 at one stage, but 67 not out from Paul Weekes towards the end of the day put the initiative firmly back with his team.

The match marks a return to first-class cricket for James Foster – the Essex and England wicket-keeper who has been out of action with a broken arm. Zimbabwean Andy Flower is playing as a batsman and Foster snared his first victim when Catching Hutton off Justin Bishop. That will have pleased Foster more than the tally of 12 byes. The 20 no balls will not have pleased the Essex coaching staff very much either.

© CricInfo