Weston raised the tempo of his innings after the lunch interval

Robin Weston made the most of a below-strength Zimbabwe attack to compile the seventh first-class century of his career.

The 27-year-old opener hit two sixes and 22 fours in his 129 before being caught by tour debutant Vusimuzi Sibanda off Travis Friend in the final session of play.

Following Weston's dismissal, Irishman Ed Joyce inflicted further punishment on the tourists, making 80 before falling to a run-out in the closing overs of the day.

Paul Weekes stood firm to remain unbeaten on 30, while keeper Michael Brown was yet to get off the mark after surviving 21 deliveries.

Weston shared a second wicket stand of 148 with Owais Shah after skipper Andy Strauss had fallen to the second ball of the day.

Sean Ervine, given the new ball at the start of play, quickly accounted for Strauss, who edged to wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu.

But Weston and Shah maintained a healthy scoring rate of almost three and a half per over through the morning session, although the latter enjoyed a slice of good fortune when a top-edged hook off Friend was misjudged by Nkala at fine leg.

Shah eventually became Friend's first victim of the day for 68 and Ben Hutton fell to spinner Ray Price shortly afterwards, with Mark Vermeulen taking the catch.

A Zimbabwe team missing regular captain Heath Streak, plus Andy Blignaut and Doug Hondo, was skippered for the first time by 20-year-old Taibu.

Seamer Mluleki Nkala, off-spinning all-rounder Barney Rogers and 20-year-old batsman Vusimuzi Sibanda, who is playing in his first game of the tour, were all given the nod.

For Middlesex, left-arm spinner Chris Peploe was handed a debut.

Middlesex: Andy Strauss (Capt), Robin Weston, Owais Shah, Ben Hutton, Ed Joyce, Paul Weekes, Michael Brown (Wkt), Simon Cook, Thomas Hunt, Chris Peploe, Tim Bloomfield.