Thanks to David Leatherdale, who fell seven short of what would have been a well-deserved century, Worcestershire recovered strongly enough from their afternoon's collapse to declare at 301 for eight, having got their third batting point.

In 17 overs that remained of the day, Middlesex's openers, Andy Strauss and Mike Roseberry collected 62 without being separated.

After losing the company of his captain, Graeme Hick, whom Phil Tufnell had caught at silly mid-off for 81, made off 180 balls, with eight fours, Leatherdale lost two more partners in the space of eight runs and five overs, setbacks which reduced Worcestershire to 212 for six.

Paul Pollard fell lbw to his off-spinning namesake, Weekes, while stumper Steve Rhodes, whose best innings have been played in crisis such as Worcestershire now faced, was run out brilliantly by Strauss, from deep cover.

Rhodes, however, was unfortunate to be out because he had grounded his bat in completion of a second run. But he strayed out of his crease to avoid Strauss's bullet of a throw which hit the stumps direct. Rhodes remonstrated with umpire Roy Palmer on his way to the pavilion.

Leatherdale, on 49 at this stage, was helped by Worcestershire's Australian fast bowler, Andy Bichel, from Queensland, who played in the same forthright manner as his partner while the pair added 73.

Middlesex had to endure their resistance till the new ball became due. When it was taken, Angus Fraser bowled Leatherdale to increase his tally of wickets to three. He had removed Anurag Singh and Vikram Solanki in his opening spell in the morning.

© CricInfo