Burns and Stirling rescue rocky Middlesex

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Close, day three: Middlesex 309 & 140-3 lead Worcestershire 385 by 64 runs

An unbroken stand of 67 between Joe Burns and Paul Stirling ensured Middlesex came through a nervy evening session and give themselves a chance to bat out a draw at Uxbridge.

Worcestershire’s Tom Fell had made a superb 143 earlier in the day to give his side a healthy first-innings lead.

Lower-order contributions from Jack Shantry (41 not out) and Saeed Ajmal (20) left Worcestershire 76 runs ahead by the time they were bowled out.

Tim Murtagh took two wickets in an over to finish off the innings and end with a season’s best 4-76, while James Harris claimed 3-103.

Sam Robson then fell in the third over of Middlesex’s second innings, the fifth time he has failed to make it to double figures this season.

Nick Gubbins (23) and Nick Compton (47) did put on 60 for the second wicket but both were dismissed before Middlesex had wiped out the deficit, leaving them in a precarious position.

However, Burns (29 not out) and Stirling (39 not out) survived the final 22 overs of the day to steady the ship.

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