Weston and Strauss keep Middlesex hopes alive at Worcester

Robin Weston's third century of the season in the CricInfo Championship put the seal on a mixed first day for promotion outsiders Middlesex at a chilly and sometimes damp New Road.

Despite two interruptions for rain and a terminal stoppage for bad light, they built on a century start by Weston and Andrew Strauss to make 258-6 against some indifferent Worcestershire bowling.

A fifth-wicket partnership of 95 by Weston and acting skipper Paul Weekes gave them a chance of scaling their loftiest objective, but a healthy bounty of batting points probably slipped from their grasp within three overs from Graeme Hick after tea.

The off-spinner held a one-handed caught-and-bowled to remove Weston for 106 and then bowled David Nash.

Having started the last round of matches in fifth place, Middlesex need to pick up eight more points than Gloucestershire and four more than Warwickshire.

The first session went according to their most optimistic script as Strauss made 92, including 17 fours from 107 balls, in an opening stand of 143 in only two hours.

Hick was the sixth bowler in Worcestersire's hard-pressed attack when he dismissed Strauss with a good catch, diving forward at deep cover, by Philip Weston, the elder brother of the other Middlesex opener.

Owais Shah and Stephen Fleming then departed in successive overs from Alamgir Sheriyar and Middlesex were in danger of wasting their electric start when Ed Joyce was caught at square leg soon after lunch.

Weekes appeared at 158 for 4 and set about re-stabilising his side in between the afternoon showers with a more watchful Weston. He eventually reached his hundred from 164 balls, albeit with an edged boundary - his 17th in all - off Andy Bichel.