Martyn looked good during his brief innings

Paul Weekes, leading Middlesex in the absence of Angus Fraser and New Zealander Stephen Fleming, won the toss and put Australia in.

He was soon in the action as he caught Matthew Hayden off Jamie Hewitt for three, and the medium pacer struck again when Mark Waugh gave a catch to Hutton after making 14.

Ricky Ponting was soon into his stride with Melbourne-born teenager Thomas Hunt conceding 26 from three overs after being brought into the attack as first change.

But Chad Keegan claimed a notable scalp when he removed Australian skipper Steve Waugh for four, courtesy of another catch by Weekes.

Damien Martyn followed up his century at Worcester by hitting four boundaries in reaching 19 off 16 deliveries but Cook then found the edge and wicket-keeper David Nash made no mistake.

Harvey launches into a powerful blow

Pointing found the boundary 12 times in his innings but Weekes made another good decision by introducing his own off-spin into the attack and had the Tasmanian caught behind in his opening over.

Andrew Symonds was lbw to Cook two runs later and the innings was in danger of going into freefall.

But wicket-keeper Wade Seccombe stayed with Harvey to add 33 for the seventh wicket before he was caught and bowled by Weekes for nine.

Shane Warne was next to go with the score on 154, giving Weekes his third wicket of the innings.

Harvey continued to plunder runs at will, hitting a six and nine fours before he was bowled by Cook, who returned excellent figures of three for 39 from his eight overs.

Weekes took three for 36 but it was Hunt who polished off the innings when he bowled last man Nathan Bracken.

Jason Gillespie took the new ball for the tourists, his first competitive bowl since being sent home from their tour of India earlier this year because of fitness problems.

But it was Bracken who made the breakthrough by having Andrew Strauss caught by Harvey for 15, with the score on 33.

Shane Warne dropped a caught and bowled chance offered by Shah, and Australia paid the penalty as he and Hutton gradually lifted the tempo.

Shah departed for exactly 50 when he was stumped by Seccombe off Warne, who bowled 10 overs for figures of one for 39.

Hutton continued to run well between the wickets despite his partner's dismissal as he and Weston took the score to 170.

The loss of Hutton and Cook, who was caught off Harvey for 20, offered a glimmer of hope to Australia, with Middlesex still 29 short of their target.

But Weston was their equal with 36 not out off 46 balls and Roseberry finished unbeaten on 11.