Owais Shah started the new County Championship season with a stylish century before three late wickets for Leicestershire left Middlesex 257-5 on the first day at Grace Road, writes Patrick Mooney. Shah made 116 and shared a stand of 145 with skipper Ed

Owais Shah started the new County Championship season with a stylish century before three late wickets for Leicestershire left Middlesex 257-5 on the first day at Grace Road, writes Patrick Mooney.

Shah made 116 and shared a stand of 145 with skipper Ed Smith (56) after fellow England batsman Andrew Strauss (21) fell before lunch.

Leicestershire's attack struggled to maintain a consistent line and length but three wickets in the last 10 overs, including those of Shah and Smith, brought them back into the game.

Strauss had looked in little trouble after Middlesex won the toss on Wednesday, but after cutting twice for four he could not keep down a lifter from Dan Rowe.

Fellow opener Billy Godleman (41) was caught at mid-off driving at left-arm spinner Claude Henderson, but Shah and Smith slowly took control with a partnership spread across 50 overs.

Shah was finally caught at backward point, Smith at point chasing a wide delivery, and Nick Compton fell to the last ball of the day, trapped lbw by Ryan Cummins.