Steve Finn claimed three wickets as Middlesex took the honours on the first day of their LV County Championship Division Two match against Glamorgan at Swansea.

Despite winning the toss Glamorgan were restricted to 217 for eight in the 81 overs which were possible before rain called a halt to proceedings.

Glamorgan needed a good performance in this match to keep their faint promotion hopes alive but none of their batsmen could build a big innings with Jamie Dalrymple and Gareth Rees top-scoring with 40.

The opening pair of Rees and Will Bragg were forced to make a watchful start after Dalrymple, restored to the side after missing the previous day's pro40 clash with a stomach bug, decided to bat first.

But the introduction of Gareth Berg from the Mumbles Road end immediately paid dividends as he had Bragg caught by Owais Shah at third slip.

That left Glamorgan 33 for one and was the beginning of regular wickets for the Middlesex attack.

They broke through again before lunch with the prized wicket of Herschelle Gibbs who perished in Shaun Udal's opening over, caught at backward short leg attempting a sweep.

A heavy shower ended the morning session 10 minutes early with Glamorgan on 70 for two.

At the start of the afternoon's proceedings Michael Powell and Rees did some good rebuilding work as Glamorgan brought up the 100 in the 38th over.

But Powell's vigil was brought to an end when he was caught by Sam Robson at short-leg to give Udal his second wicket.

And 109 for three became 113 for four as Finn unleashed an imposing spell. Rees went caught behind for 40 before Jim Allenby, on his county championship debut for Glamorgan, was caught at third slip.

Two overs later Finn broke through again after Mark Wallace top edged an attempted pull and was caught in the gully as Glamorgan stumbled to 139 for six.

Just before tea England Lions pair Dalrymple and James Harris were parted when the 19-year-old seamer was stumped off Murali Kartik.

It had not been a good day for the batsmen but Dalrymple did strike Berg for three fours in an over before Kartik claimed the home captain, caught at slip. That was before rain stopped play with Glamorgan on 194 for eight.

When play resumed Robert Croft and Adam Shantry, who both scored centuries in the victory over Leicestershire, guided Glamorgan past 200 and a batting point before rain curtailed the day's play.