Dawid Malan underlined his liking for Hampshire’s bowlers as a high-class 147 put Middlesex in early command of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match at Northwood.

Malan was joined by his captain Adam Voges in a 279-run third wicket stand which propelled Middlesex to 342 for 3 after they had initially slumped to 14 for 2.

Australian Test batsman Voges also played superbly for his unbeaten 128, from 259 balls and with 13 fours, and he and John Simpson, who is unbeaten on 28, saw off the second new ball to complete a fine day for Middlesex.

Malan was first to three figures, driving former West Indies fast bowler Tino Best through extra cover for his 13th four in the second over after tea, and his 16th first-class century followed scores of 121 and 24 not out against Hampshire in the championship game at the Ageas Bowl earlier this month and a sparkling 93 on Friday in the NatWest T20 Blast encounter between the two sides at Uxbridge.

An entertaining day began with Hampshire on top and forcing Malan and Voges to battle hard for supremacy on a pitch on which facing the new ball was a testing proposition in early overcast and chilly conditions.

The predominantly sunny afternoon session brought 130 runs as the third wicket pair grew in authority in warmer temperatures and then, after tea, came some thrilling cricket as Malan hit Mason Crane’s leg spin straight for six before upper-cutting Best in extraordinary fashion for another six to wide third man.

The fiery Best responded with a ferocious bouncer that Malan, by now on 122 and looking in complete command, could only glove down from in front of his face for a streaky single and with both feet off the ground.

Voges soon after completed his hundred, the 36-year-old’s 32nd career ton, when he took three successive fours off Crane to sprint from 91 to 103.

In truth they were three poor balls, two long hops either side of a low full toss which disappeared to the ropes at mid-wicket, long on and cover point respectively.

Malan was finally dismissed when he drove at Liam Dawson’s left-arm spin and edged to slip, where Sean Ervine took a sharp and instinctive catch chest-high. He had batted for almost five hours, facing 226 balls and hitting two sixes and 17 fours.

After opting to bat first at the attractive Merchant Taylors’ School ground when he won a toss, Voges saw openers Nick Gubbins and Sam Robson both quickly fall to catches in the slip cordon.

Left-hander Gubbins edged James Tomlinson low to third slip on 4 in the fourth over and then Robson, pushing half-forward, was held at second slip off a delighted Best, who pumped his fists Curtly Ambrose-style in a celebration which lit up the morning gloom.

The prolific Robson’s dismissal, for a 27-ball 2, would have had nerves jangling in the Middlesex dressing room but Malan and Voges fought hard to rally their side and, immediately after lunch, bravely negotiated a hostile spell by Best to complete excellent fifties before pushing on as the ball grew softer.

Middlesex have given a championship debut in this game to James Fuller, the seamer they signed from Gloucestershire last winter, in place of a rested James Harris, while Hampshire have brought in 19-year-old Joe Weatherley for his championship debut in place of Tom Alsop.

Malan said: “At lunch we thought 250 would be a good score so to get 340-odd on the board at the end of this first day is very satisfying. It just shows what is possible when two batsmen get in and get hundreds and put a big partnership together, but there is still something in the pitch for the seamers and if we can get past 400 and get a few early wickets with the new ball we will be in a great position.

“We could have been four or five wickets down in the first session and both Tino Best and James Tomlinson bowled very well with the new ball, as did Ryan McLaren when he came into the attack. But I think they suffered through only having three frontline seamers, which meant they had to bowl their spinners perhaps a bit earlier than they wanted to do. You never felt in out there, although it got a little easier when the ball got softer.”

Dale Benkenstein, the Hampshire coach, said: “When the sun got on the pitch it looked a bit easier but it’s not a flat pitch and they have got a good score on the board. But I was still proud of the way we kept going. Credit to Middlesex for the way they batted, but we did not have the best of luck with the ball today.”