Middlesex ease to win over Worcestershire

County Championship Division One, Lord's
Middlesex 327-7 dec & forfeit beat Worcestershire 45-2 dec & 150 by 132 runs
Middlesex 19pts, Worcs 2pts
Match scorecard

Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell was made to pay for his overnight declaration as his side slipped to a 132-run defeat by Middlesex at Lord's.

With the game heading for a draw, Mitchell declared 282 behind and the hosts forfeited their second innings.

But the target of 283 proved beyond the visitors as they slumped to 96-8.

A stand of 54 between Aneesh Kapil and Richard Jones held up Middlesex before Steve Finn struck twice to see Worcestershire bowled out for 150.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Middlesex temporary Championship captain Chris Rogers:

"Their captain came to me and proposed it and we thought it was a good chance for us to get a win.

"It worked out well for us, but I can understand their thinking. If they batted well, who knows what would have happened?

"This game has worked out for us, but I think the next game, against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, is going to be a real test for us. We're going to find out exactly where we are."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"To be fair, we produced a game of cricket, which is what we are here for and to try to get a result.

"It didn't go our way and that was disappointing but it was far better than playing for points and playing out a draw.

"I was disappointed by the way we batted, especially early on against a good attack in some friendly conditions. We just needed a base.

"If we had got a start and had got a couple of decent partnerships then we would have gone very close to taking 16 points which would have been magnificent but sadly our batters let us down."