A Ronnie Irani century prevented total humiliation for Essex after the home side's tail-end batters had a field day in north London.

Starting the day on 376-6, Middlesex lost Paul Weekes early in the morning for 71.

But David Nash piled on the misery for the visitors, and Phil Tufnell, batting at 11, helped him add 71 for the final wicket.

Nash finished unbeaten on 81, while Tufnell's cameo saw him smash 45 off 37 balls before Jon Dakin removed him for his third wicket of the innings.

The only Essex bowler to emerge with some credit was Tim Phillips, the young slow left-armer finishing with four for 102.

In reply, Essex folded in disastrous fashion to be seven for three at one stage.

Abdur Razzaq removed Aftab Habib and Andy Flower for one and nought respectively, after Aaron Laraman had dismissed opener Will Jefferson for a duck.

A recovery operation was desperately needed by Essex.

It began when Darren Robinson (73) added 167 for the fourth wicket, and continued when James Foster, in his first Championship game of the season, finished the day on 33 not out.

The pair will be batting together on Saturday morning with Irani on 109 in a stand worth 65 to date.

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