A dazzling first Championship century by Anurag Singh added to Middlesex's frustrations on bad a day for their hopes of snatching promotion.

Persistent interruptions, beginning with a 90-minute delay in the morning, only stoked up the feeling that the prize could be slipping away from them.

They missed a fourth batting point by one run when Alamgir Sheriyar took the last two wickets in successive balls and then suffered a pounding as Worcestershire replied to a total of 349 by making 182 for 1 in only 37.3 overs.

Middlesex did their best to improve on the overnight score of 258 for six. Paul Weekes got to 63 before he was bowled by Chris Liptrot and Simon Cook (37 not out) assisted in the addition of 91 runs.

They edged past their initial objective of 300 and then aspired to a further batting point as Cook and Tim Bloomfield smashed 50 from only 44 balls. But that was to be the end as Sheriyar nipped in to complete a battered but profitable return of 5 for 121.

Worcestershire then batted on a whirlwind. They reached 100 by the 21st over, Philip Weston completed 1,000 Championship runs for the season, and Singh reached his hundred from 114 balls with 16 fours and a six.

The partnership was eventually to be worth 180, the county's best for the first wicket this season and also a record for Championship meetings with Middlesex.

Weston was caught at deep mid-on off Tufnell for 71 and then the umpteenth rain shower closed a surprisingly eventful day half-an-hour early.

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