Essex batsman Grant Flower survived an early life to make 145 in his side's 345-7 on day one as Middlesex's faint hopes of promotion finally ended.

Flower batted all day after being dropped by Ed Smith on 25 and shared a 38-over stand of 181 with James Foster.

Foster hit 18 boundaries in his second successive championship innings of 96.

To complete Middlesex's misery, Notts picked up the point they needed against Somerset to condemn the Londoners to another season in Division Two.

Middlesex had needed Notts to fail to get a single point against Somerset while they were picking up maximum points themselves to go up but it was not to be.

Flower dominated proceedings against them - reaching 50 with two swept fours against Murali Kartik and then completing his century with the aid of 15 fours.

Out-of-form skipper Mark Pettini made just six runs before bad light cut short the day's action by 13 overs.

Robbie Williams emerged as Middlesex's most successful bowler, returning figures of 4-99 in 26 overs.