Andrew Strauss

England captain Andrew Strauss struck a polished unbeaten century to strengthen Middlesex’s chances of saving the game against County Championship leaders Nottinghamshire at Uxbridge.

Strauss had reached 127 not out when a teatime downpour halted play on the third day of four, with Middlesex wiping out a first innings deficit to lead by eight runs.

Starting their second innings 231 adrift of the visitors, Middlesex played positively in the morning session, with Strauss and Sam Robson putting on 55 for the first wicket.

The partnership ended when Robson (26) was caught down the leg side off Andy Carter, but Chris Rogers kept Strauss company until Middlesex went to lunch at 107-1.

Strauss reached his second half-century of the match with a streaky edge through the slips, but caught the majority of his shots much more cleanly as the pair continued to plunder the Notts bowling.

Rogers belted three boundaries in quick succession off Ben Phillips and passed 50 from 82 balls before Strauss reached three figures with an on-drive off Samit Patel, his 12th boundary of the innings.

Their partnership realised 143, but Middlesex were still 33 runs in arrears when Rogers (59) fell leg before to Harry Gurney, and his exit slowed the scoring rate.

Strauss got away with a mistimed pull off Carter just before tea, but he and Joe Denly (15 not out) guided the home side into the black at 239-2 to boost their hopes of avoiding defeat on the final day.