Worcestershire are in trouble

Middlesex paceman Tom Helm returned career best figures before skipper Dawid Malan’s 23rd first class hundred established a position of strength for visitors.

Helm finished with 5-36 from 19 overs to earn Middlesex a first innings lead of 65 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 156 in 63.5 overs shortly before tea.

It surpassed the 25-year-old’s previous best of 5-59 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston two years ago as he exploited a pitch of uneven bounce and received excellent support from veteran Tim Murtagh (17-9-25-2).

Then skipper Malan (107) and Nick Gubbins (72) cashed in during a marathon final session of 51 overs with an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 175 as the visitors closed on 195-2, an overall advantage of 260.

Conditions appeared to ease for batting during the second half of the day although Worcestershire, with the exception of skipper Joe Leach, were guilty of some undistinguished bowling.

In a rain shortened morning session Helm followed up his two wickets yesterday with another double breakthrough in the half-hour’s play possible after Worcestershire had resumed on 64-3 in reply to Middlesex’s 221.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals before the Pears’ last wicket pair of skipper Leach (32 not out) and Charlie Morris (15) offered some resistance with a stand of 40 in 16 overs.

Leach took the new ball and dismissed Max Holden and Sam Robson to leave Middlesex on 20-2. But Malan and Gubbins then took charge.