Leus du Plooy haunted Gloucestershire once again with an unbeaten 98 as Middlesex reached 279-5 on a truncated first day of the County Championship season at a gloomy Lord’s.

The South African-born left-hander, who made a career-best 263 not out against the same opponents in the final match of last season at the Home of Cricket, picked up where he had left off, producing another classy innings, including 10 fours.

Du Plooy shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 85 with Joe Cracknell (58 not out) having earlier put on 84 with Max Holden.

Will Williams bowled well for 2-46 as did Tasmanian Gabe Bell (1-44), both on debut, but the visitors were left to rue three dropped catches which would have given the day a different complexion.

Given the morning rain, murky skies and that the lights were on from the off, it was no surprise Gloucestershire chose to bowl first and they should have had an early breakthrough, Sam Robson tucking a ball off his hip that carried to backward square where Williams shelled the catch.

The morning’s play was attritional, Robson and opening partner Josh de Caires accumulating slowly, so much so it was 93 balls before the former creamed the first boundary through cover.

Gloucestershire’s bowlers were a little short in length and bowled too many down leg-side. One such delivery, though, brought the breakthrough as De Caires was strangled out, James Bracey taking a fine low catch off the bowling of Matt Taylor.

Rain brought an early lunch and shortly after the resumption, Robson played around a fuller delivery to be trapped in front by Williams, his first wicket in Gloucestershire colours.