Middlesex academy graduate Adam London scored a dogged half-century on his first-class debut to help his side reach a workmanlike 307 for six on the opening day of their LV Championship second division clash with Gloucestershire at Lord's.

The blond-haired, Surrey-born left-hander, who is signed on a summer contract with Middlesex, helped hold together another mixed batting display by the basement county who are in search of only their second first-class win of the campaign.

With both Eoin Morgan and Owais Shah away on England one-day international duty in Ireland, Middlesex brought back a fit again Neil Dexter, recently recovered from a bout of glandular fever, and 20-year-old London, for a first-class debut. Both played vital roles.

Despite heavy, early morning skies Middlesex skipper Shaun Udal elected to bat first after winning the toss. His choice initially looked surprising, but once the cloud cover burnt off openers Nick Compton and Sam Robson set about adding 46 for the first wicket under sunny skies.

Neither player was truly tested in the opening exchanges and easily played out the new ball thrust of Jonathan Lewis and James Franklin.

The latter was replaced at The Pavilion End by Steve Kirby but he too suffered at the hands of Compton, who drove two fours in an over to the short boundary in front of the Grandstand.

The introduction of Kiwi all-rounder Hamish Marshall after 17 overs sparked Gloucestershire's opening breakthrough when Compton (28), in attempting to run the right-armer's first delivery down to third man, got tucked up by some extra bounce and edged meekly to Chris Taylor at first slip.

Robson had one stroke of luck when, with his score on 26, a flashing edged drive against Kirby just eluded third slip, but the Aussie-born right-hander moved on smoothly thereafter to reach a deserved 119-ball 50 after lunch with seven boundaries.

Robson and London added 96 for the second wicket either side of the interval, but the partnership ended with Robson on 83 from 171 balls and with 11 fours, his attempted cut off Kirby ballooned into the hands of Richard Dawson at second slip.

London teamed up with fellow left-hander Malan to post Middlesex's opening batting bonus point on the stroke of tea with London moving to his maiden first-class 50 from 141 balls with a three through the covers off Taylor's bowling.

But the third wicket partners fell in quick succession after the tea break when London, on 68 after a 202-minute stay, dragged onto his stumps against Marshall then, without addition to the score Malan (38) toe-ended an attempted pull off Ian Saxelby low to Marshall at short cover.

The stream of four dismissals continued throughout the final session when Ben Scott fell leg before for only six when pushing half-forward against Saxelby while promising all-rounder Gareth Berg (5) failed

to cash in after being promoted up the order when he nicked a bouncing delivery with the second new ball from Kirby through to keeper Stephen Adshead.

Dexter stopped the rot in tandem with Udal (26no) through to stumps, Dexter's classy straight driving reaping 10 fours and taking him to an unbeaten 46 from 72 balls with power to add on day two.