Shah responds to Test squad omission with ton

Owais Shah hammered out a personal message to the England selectors with a classy century to put Middlesex firmly in the driving seat on the first day of their CricInfo Championship match against Notts at Trent Bridge. Shah's 144 and an unbeaten hundred from Stephen Fleming took the Division Two leaders close to maximum batting points as they ended the day on 397--3.

Middlesex scored 125 runs during the morning session for just the loss of Robin Weston. His opening partner Andrew Strauss had scored an accomplished half-century off just 62 balls in that period but was dismissed soon after the interval for 67.

The afternoon belonged to Shah who reached his hundred in the most enjoyable of ways by pulling David Lucas for a towering six out of the ground. He enjoyed good support from Stephen Fleming as the pair reached tea on 277--2, with the New Zealander himself passing 50.

Notts weren't any better on the resumption and Fleming took full advantage. He hit five fours and a two in one over from AJ Harris and made it 37 runs from 12 deliveries faced when he advanced to 99 in the next over -- taking the stand beyond 200 in the process.

The second century of the day was confirmed when the Kiwi turned Richard Logan to leg for a single (190 mine 145 balls 20x4). Logan responded next ball by knocking Shah's leg stump out of the ground to end a glorious innings on 144.

Ben Hutton joined Fleming for the final hour of the day and against some gentle off spin from Greg Blewett and some indisciplined seam bowling at the other end they put on 60 for the fourth wicket.

After beginning the week by successfully chasing a huge target, Notts were firmly on the receiving end with Middlesex threatening to post a massive first innings total.