The partnership of 247 between Nick Gubbins (145) and Nick Compton was Middlesex’s best for the second wicket against Durham in the 24 years since the north-east side began playing first-class fixtures.
They fell a little short of Middlesex’s all-time best second-wicket partnership of 380, set by Jack Hearne (204) and Frank Tarrant (198) against Lancashire at Lord’s in June 1914 – just a month before the First World War broke out.
The pair hit centuries as Division One leaders Middlesex piled on the runs against Durham at Lord’s. As Compton (131) hit his first ton of the season in only his second game back since taking a break from cricket after the Test series against Sri Lanka, he shared a 247-run second wicket stand with Gubbins who top scored with 145.
At the other side, Graham Onions (3-76) took two quick wickets after tea, but Middlesex closed on 408-6, a commanding lead of 204. Gubbins, who had been dropped on 39 late on day one, later hit 19 fours and one six in a six-and-a-half-hour stay at the crease.