Rob White's magnificent century helped Northants end day two with a slender advantage at Uxbridge, helped by the fall of two late Middlesex wickets.

The hosts, resuming on 317-7, fell to 340 all out and White's 127 off 103 balls, including 19 fours and three sixes, put Northants firmly in charge.

A middle-order collapse, though, meant they fell from 281-3 to 377 all out.

However, Johannes van der Wath produced a superb spell, removing Andrew Strauss and Steve Finn to leave Middlesex 4-2.

Strauss was dismissed for just four when he edged the imperious van der Wath to wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien, before nightwatchman Finn was out lbw to the same bowler with the last ball of the day.

Earlier, White looked set to lead Northants to a mammoth first-innings total, but when he was caught off Shaun Udal, it sparked a collapse from the visitors with seven wickets falling after tea.

Tim Murtagh led the way with 3-79, while Finn, Udal and first-innings centurion Dawid Malan took two apiece.

It looked to have got Middlesex right back into the contest, but the loss of two late wickets means they again have to fight back on day three.