Three centurions for Middlesex

Owais Shah celebrates his 35th first-class century as Middlesex pile on the runs

Owais Shah and Eoin Morgan followed in Andrew Strauss’ first-day footsteps as Middlesex piled further misery on Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Shah took his overnight tally to 114 while Irish left-hander Morgan hit an unbeaten 136 as the visitors amassed a match-winning 545 for seven declared.

Monty Panesar was the pick of a lacklustre Northants attack clearly missing Johan van der Wath, the England left-arm spinner picking up 5-143 before they stuttered in reply.

The hosts finished day two over 400 runs behind Middlesex – paceman Steven Finn claiming 2-31 as Northants mustered 128 for three.

Strauss’ anger at being dragged off on Wednesday night was vindicated early in the morning when he was snared by Panesar five short of his career-best 177.

Thoughts of a revival for the home side were quickly halted in their tracks as Morgan joined Wednesday night’s unbeaten batsmen Shah.

The imperious Shah again accumulated runs carefully, ably assisted by the Irishman as the pair played watchfully as Steven Crook and David Lucas looked dangerous with the second new ball.

Shah passed three figures in the same over after a well-timed punch through midwicket brought him two runs.

Andrew Strauss trudges off five shy of his career best

After a quick burst with the new ball Northants skipper Nicky Boje quickly reverted to his fellow left-arm spinner Panesar but Morgan took a liking to the England spinner, smashing him for two fours in the over before lunch.

Morgan brought up his fifth half-century of the season immediately after lunch with a well-struck four over mid-on from the bowling of skipper Boje.

Shah departed in the third over after the lunch break when he danced down the wicket to Panesar but was beaten in the flight and O’Brien made no mistake to give the England spinner his third wicket.

Ed Joyce departed in the next over as Boje joined in the fun, snaring the former skipper to Riki Wessels at short-leg.

Northants continued their mini-revival when Panesar had Ben Scott caught behind for eight and Boje bowled skipper Shaun Udal for one.

Panesar was among the wickets again, dismissing Tim Murtagh to claim his fifth wicket as the visitors lost five wickets for 52 runs.

But while the wickets fell Morgan held strong, finishing on 136 as Middlesex declared on 545 for seven at the tea interval.

Middlesex got the perfect possible start to the innings when Murtagh claimed his 62nd championship wicket of the season by trapping Stephen Peters lbw for four.

The home side responded well through Niall O’Brien and Rob White but both soon succumbed to the introduction of Finn.

The 19-year-old removed White for 32 before forcing O’Brien into a false shot on 30 to leave David Sales and Wessels left on 37 and 24 as they ended on 128.