After winning the toss and being put in to bat first Durham were dismissed for 102 in their first innings with Michael Richardson top scoring with 22. In response Middlesex were 144-7 at the close of play
Durham were 54-6 after 25 overs with only Dale Benkenstein, Mark Stoneman and Paul Collingwood reaching double figures.
Gareth Berg and Tim Murtagh were the pick of the attack for the visitors with the former dismissing three batsmen without scoring and the latter picking up the wickets of the two openers and Scott Borthwick.
Steven Finn claimed the scalps of Collingwood and Richardson with Toby Roland-Jones claiming one wicket from the innings.
Middlesex started steadily in response but lost Tim Robson (7) with the total at 34 when he was trapped lbw by Callum Thorp. A further breakthrough was made when Joe Denly, who added 9, was caught by Collingwood off Stokes eleven overs later.
The visitors were 83-3 when Chris Rogers (59) was caught impressively by Ben Stokes off Graham Onions, a wicket which initiated a ripple effect with Stokes going on to pick up two further wickets in consecutive overs, firstly trapping Eoin Morgan lbw without scoring and then having Simpson caught by Collingwood at first slip.
Collingwood picked up his third catch as he dismissed Dawid Malan (24) off Thorp as Middlesex achieved a ten run lead.
Middlesex ended the day on 144-7 after Scott Borthwick struck with his first delivery, catching Ollie Rayner (14), off his own bowling, at which point play came to an end five deliveries early.