A century from Jason Roy sullied Nick Compton’s return to action as Surrey recovered from a poor start to score at four an over throughout the first day at Lord’s.
Tim Murtagh’s early wickets had the visitors at 23-2 but they recovered thanks to a fourth-wicket stand of 118 between Roy (110) and opener Rory Burns (88).
Roy also put on 83 with Steven Davies as Surrey continued to plunder runs in the afternoon session.
Their progress remained unchecked after Roy fell, with Ben Foakes looking fluent for an unbeaten 53.
Surrey’s decision to bat after winning the toss looked ill-advised after Murtagh (pictured) had Dominic Sibley (3) and Zafar Ansari (1) lbw early on.
Aaron Finch counter-attacked, hitting 37 from 32 balls, including a six down the ground off the previously frugal Murtagh, before he too was pinned lbw, this time by Middlesex skipper James Franklin.
Burns reached his 50 on the stroke of lunch and he and Roy found the boundary with regularity as the menace in the pitch seemed to dissipate.
Surrey were 125-3 at lunch, after just 27 overs, and were 188-3 when Burns slashed at a wide one from James Harris and sent it straight to George Bailey.
The partnership between Roy and Davies was also swift, 83 being added in 20 overs, but it was to end in the final over before tea.
Shortly after Roy had reached his century with a quick single to mid-off, Davies fell lbw to off-spinner Ollie Rayner – a previous scourge of Surrey at The Oval.
That left them 271-5 at tea and Middlesex were given a boost when they first removed centurion Roy, Compton claiming the catch at extra cover off Toby Roland-Jones, and then Sam Curran, castled by Franklin.
However, any hopes the home side harboured of bowling their rivals out for under 350 were ended by Foakes, who reached his 50 with an on drive in the penultimate over of the day.
This post was last modified on 04/08/2016