A century partnership from Ben Hutton and Ed Joyce held up Essex after Jon Dakin had plunged Middlesex into early trouble on the opening day of their Championship clash.
Dakin struck three times in his first six overs before Middlesex had moved out of the 20s, but Hutton and Joyce turned things round with a stand of 128.
Ravinder Bopara finally broke it when he held a return catch to get rid of Joyce, but Hutton remained to fight another day at Lord's having contributed 69 out of a total of 178-4.
After the opening session had been lost to the weather, Dakin was soon justifying skipper Paul Grayson's decision to insert his opponents.
The tall seamer struck twice in his second. His first victim was Sven Koenig who casually flicked at a leg side delivery and got a touch that was snapped up by wicketkeeper James Foster.
Koenig made way for Owais Shah, who hit a boundary from the first ball he received. But edged the next to Will Jefferson at second slip with the total still in single figures.
Dakin posed the greater threat and should have been celebrating another victim with the total on 15, Foster failing to hold onto a very difficult chance offered by Strauss from an inside edge.
But Dakin did not have to wait long for his next success as Strauss's luck run out.
Having just moved into double figures his stay was cut short when he departed lbw playing across the line.
Hutton and Joyce looked far more comfortable against Graham Napier and Bopara, and prospered with a series off well-timed strokes.
After lunch the batsmen had increasing freedom and Joyce sank the total into three figures with a square drive to the fence against Brant.
Joyce pulled Dakin for his sixth boundary to make his half-century and Hutton arrived at the milestone in the same over.
The arrival of off-spinner James Middlebrook to the attack was greeted by two fours by Joyce in his opening over, but the reintroduction of Bopara ended the partnership with the total on 151.
Joyce's share of the 128 stand was ended when he top edged a pull to give the medium paceman an easy return catch.
Published Thursday, June 5, 2003
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