Sussex 328 for 4 (Pujara 115*, Alsop 135) vs mid-sex
Alsop, at 135, wisely struck alongside Pujara – the Indian star who registered his fifth LV=Insurance County Championship hundred of the season to close out at 115 and put the visitors firmly in control.
Home skipper Tim Murtagh bet on a greenish surface to help the sailors early – but that never got off the ground as his side toiled in sweltering conditions with little success.
The Sussex pair built a third wicket partnership of 219 before Tom Helm, who finished 3 for 63, struck late by sacking Alsop and night watchman Archie Lenham in the space of four balls.
Middlesex handed Pieter Malan a debut, finally available after untangling the red tape that had delayed the approval of his visa, but the South African’s first contribution was to fiddle a Tom Clark cover over the rope.
Murtagh, who did swing from time to time during the opening hour, broke through with a direct delivery that held the in-form Ali Orr for 7 before his stumps.
However, that was Middlesex’s only success before lunch, with Alsop looking confident on the front foot and taking advantage of the short cut as he caught up with his partner.
Helm switched to the Nursery End after the break and immediately persuaded Alsop to go to Sam Robson on the second slip, only to signal a no-ball.
The second wicket pair extended their alliance to 81, but Helm finally got a reward for his perseverance when Clark (33) cut out from the stump and this time Robson threw himself to the left to make a sharp one-handed catch .
That heralded the arrival of Pujara and, after a measured start, the Sussex stand-in captain switched to attack mode and went down the wicket to knock Luke Hollman to the midwicket line.
After reaching his half-century, Pujara brought the 100 partnership to the fore by hitting Malan in the stands for the first six of the match, while Sussex continued to pile up runs without giving their tiresome hosts a chance.
Alsop was first to three figures – his third ton of the campaign and second in as many games – before his partner followed suit and pushed Murtagh for a single immediately after the new ball was taken.
Middlesex performed decently enough with them, but rarely seemed to find a way to get through until Helm Alsop caught behind an incremental delivery and then removed Lenham, while Robson clung to the briefs again.