Middlesex 620-7 dec (Strauss 147, Nash 103 no, Joyce 102, Weekes 75)
Leicestershire 221-3 (Sehwag 130, Maunders 55)

Leicestershire's overseas batsman Virender Sehwag smashed a century off just 92 balls as the bottom side in the Frizzell County Championship division one fought back against Middlesex.

However, a late slump saw a position of strength at 197 without loss become 221-3 at the close - still 399 adrift.

Earlier, Middlesex piled up 620 in their first innings, thanks to centuries from Ed Joyce (102 off 227 balls) and David Nash (103 off 122 deliveries) and 75 from Paul Weekes.

Sehwag declared his intent early and Australian quickie Ashley Noffke, in particular, felt his wrath. Noffke was smashed through the offside for two fours.

When the spin of Weekes was introduced in the eighth over, Sehwag stepped out and dismissed him to long-on. He reached 50 in a mere 46 balls.

A six and a flurry of fours took Sehwag to his century, and he then hit off-spinner James Dalrymple for a huge six, which floated beyond the stadium boundaries.

But late in the day, Chad Keegan asserted Middlesex's superiority with three wickets. Sehwag was eventually dismissed for 130 off 111 balls, which included 20 fours and four sixes.