Middlesex have the better of opening day

Dawid Malan made an unbeaten 72 for the home side on day one at Lord's

Middlesex have put themselves in a strong position after day one of the LV= County Championship fixture against Northamptonshire at Lord’s.

The home side, after being put into bat, closed a slightly truncated day’s play on 280-3 after 80 overs and will expect to post a commanding total on the secon day.

The trio of Chris Rogers (86), Neil Gubbins (54) and Dawid Malan (72no) all scored half centuries for the hosts with the former pair sharing an opening stand of 128.

For the visitors, who included james Kettleborough for his Championship debut and recalled Maurice Chambers from the side who were beaten at Old Trafford, it was another day in the field with little reward.

The three wickets that did fall, to give them a first bonus point, were taken by Steven Crook, who broke the openers up, Muhammad Azharullah and Andrew Hall.