The first day of the first home game of the season began in some surprising April sun as Middlesex took on Nottinghamshire at Lord's. Notts won the toss and batted, and after a couple of near edges, James Harris struck in the 10th over having Phil Jaques caught behind for 14, 16-1. Notts then struggled to get much above 2 an over as Murtagh, Harris and Finn bowled well to keep the pressure on, and Michael Lumb finally cracked, going for a pull that went straight up in the air for Robson at square leg to complete a solid catch, 50-2. Mullaney and Taylor saw Notts through to lunch, and afterwards started opening up with some powerful strokeplay as Middlesex bowled too wide and too short to Taylor, who whacked away a couple of pulls with ease. Taylor went to 50 from 63 balls and was looking well set when he fell LBW to Harris for 62, 131-3, just in time, and then Harris had Samit Patel caught behind by Simpson for 0 in the same over, 131-4. Riki Wessels came in and soon went after the short Grand Stand boundary, clubbing Murtagh for six, before Mullaney followed suit with a straight six off Ollie Rayner. Mullaney completed his 50 from 171 balls with a hook fine off Finn for four, but edged to Malan at first slip next ball for 52, 164-5.
Chris Read and Wessels proved hard to shift as runs came steadily and the pair passed 200 and Read cashed in on some loose bowling from Harris, too short and wide. After the 250 came up, the new ball did the trick as Finn managed to fire one through Read to remove his off stump for 40 and his next over Wessels (who had got to an 86 ball 50) edged to Rayner at third slip for 58, 259-7 and the chance was there to keep them below 300. Peter Siddle and Luke Fletcher then made more pain, as they took on Murtagh and Finn in a flurry of boundaries, as 25 came in 7 balls to bring up the 300, Siddle thumping Murtagh for four, six (into the grand stand again), four. Siddle then had one swipe too many and his midwicket heave got a leading edged low to Morgan at point off Harris for an excellent 40 from 35 balls. Carter and Fletcher saw Notts to close on 315-8, a good day for them, Harris and Finn the pick of the bowling with four wickets each.
