Koenig was quick to put away anything loose

Sven Koenig helped himself to his fourth first-class century of the summer to give the Division Two leaders an excellent start against one of their main promotion rivals.

The left-hander struck a six and 17 fours before being dismissed for 113 with the final ball before the tea interval.

He put on 161 for the second wicket with Ben Hutton, who made the most of a rare Championship outing with 65 after skipper Andy Strauss had fallen cheaply at the start of play.

Paul Weekes moved impressively to 67 not out at stumps, but Essex hit back in the evening session to take three wickets as Tim Phillips returned figures of three for 85.

Strauss chose to bat first after winning the toss but only had a single to his name when he was trapped in front by Jon Dakin, who was pressed into service with the new ball because of Essex's injury problems.

It was the visitors' sole success of the morning with off-spinner James Middlebrook asked to do the bulk of the work by Ronnie Irani, who did not bowl following his one-day exertions for club and country.

Cleared the ropes

Middlesex were 99 for one at lunch and progressed to 168 before Hutton was caught behind by James Foster off Justin Bishop after an innings in which he struck only two fours, but cleared the ropes on four occasions.

It was a welcome boost for Foster, who was making his first senior appearance since suffering a broken arm in early May.

Koenig's hundred duly arrived off 193 deliveries, but he then gave a catch to Ashley Cowan off slow left-armer Phillips.

Ed Joyce was bowled by Phillips for one soon after tea, and the same bowler struck again when trapping Abdur Razzaq lbw for 11 soon after.

Essex were back in the game when Bishop picked up the crucial wicket of Owais Shah for 60, the former England one-day international hitting seven fours in a knock that promised more.

But Weekes and Nash (22 not out) saw Middlesex safely to stumps, capping an opening day that belonged to the hosts.

Middlesex: A J Strauss (Capt), S G Koenig, B L Hutton, O A Shah, E C Joyce, Abdur Razzaq, P N Weekes, D C Nash (Wkt), S J Cook, A W Laraman, P C R Tufnell.

Essex: D D J Robinson, W I Jefferson, A Habib, A Flower, R C Irani (Capt), J S Foster (Wkt), J M Dakin, J D Middlebrook, A P Cowan, T J Phillips, J E Bishop.

Umpires: M R Benson and J W Holder