Middlesex vs Durham Day One report- Raine takes three wickets as Durham strike back with the ball

Robson, who scored a fluent 87 to back up his hundred in the Seaxes’ last Rothesay County Championship game against Northamptonshire, shared a stand of 102 with the tenacious Holden (65) to guide their side to 136 for one. 

Durham were hampered by a hamstring injury to opening bowler Kemar Roach, who limped off early in the afternoon, with Luke Robinson drafted in to make his first-class debut as the West Indies international's replacement. 

But it was Ben Raine who seized the baton, bowling accurately and consistently to pick up three for 39 – including two wickets in an over – and stifle Middlesex’s progress before Ryan Higgins’ unbeaten 57 enabled them to close on 272 for six. 

On making his First Class debut, Robinson said: "It’s crazy, to go from being 12th man to making your debut at Lord’s. Obviously commiserations to Kemar (Roach), you never want to see any of your team-mates get injured. 

“But to be handed this opportunity by Cambo (coach Ryan Campbell) shows he has faith in me. It’s a dream come true, I’ve worked so hard for this moment and to be here is amazing. 

“There weren’t that many nerves really, just excitement – this is such a good place to play cricket and I was just excited to get going. 

“When Leesy (captain Alex Lees) said I was coming on to bowl, I couldn’t wait to get the ball in hand and give my all for the badge – that’s what I’ll do every time I pull this shirt on. It’s quite a flat deck out there, so to keep them to what we did today was exceptional work from all the lads. I think we’re in a great position if we can get it right tomorrow morning.”