LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Middlesex 281-5 v Northants
Northants 1pt, Middlesex 2pts
Match scorecard

Adam London faced 201 deliveries for his 77

Youngsters Adam London and Sam Robson both hit half-centuries to put Middlesex in a decent position on day one against Northants.

After the hosts won the toss, Scott Newman (44) and England captain Andrew Strauss added 72 for the first wicket.

But when Strauss fell for 25, Middlesex slipped to 72-3 before London (77) and Robson (52) shared a stand of 127.

Both men fell to Nicky Boje (2-38) but John Simpson moved to 28 not out as Middlesex closed on 281-5.

Beaten in their opening two Championship fixtures, Middlesex looked to be making good progress when Strauss, who had earlier been dropped, played onto his leg stump off Andrew Hall.

Newman had his off-stump disturbed by David Lucas soon after and, when Dawid Malan was trapped lbw by Jack Brooks, Middlesex were teetering.

But Robson and London came together just before lunch and batted throughout the afternoon session with no alarms, apart from the two occasions that left-arm seamer Lucas narrowly missed Robson's off-stump.

Boje finally made the breakthrough when Robson edged to Hall at slip, while London's 201-ball vigil ended when he was stumped attempting to drive by wicketkeeper Paul Harrison.

Simpson and Gareth Berg then saw Middlesex, who were boosted by the 50 extras conceded by the hosts, through to the close.

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