There was nothing to separate Worcestershire and Middlesex as a determined display with the ball saw the home side take eight wickets on the opening day of Rothesay County Championship action at New Road.

A nip and tuck day’s play saw momentum sway back and forth, but four wickets for Adam Finch and Ben Allison’s 3 for 69 helped peg back the visitors, who’s grip loosened after an assured start. Middlesex fought hard, after they were rocked by the news all-rounder Ryan Higgins has sustained an injury to his wrist and will be unavailable for the next two months whilst he recovers.

Sam Robson’s 70 dominated a second wicket stand worth 94 with Max Holden (49 from 151), before a revitalised Pears attack hit back in the afternoon session. Two wickets in two balls from Finch stalled Middlesex late on, but Leus du Plooy’s 85 kept the visitors well in the fight heading into day two, closing 291 for 8.

The effervescent Tom Taylor needed just three overs to mark his return to red ball cricket with the dismissal of Ben Geddes for five, as the opener edged to Jake Libby at fourth slip for five.

Veteran Sam Robson dug in during an examining opening hour, showing all his maturity to see his side through without any further casualties, despite Libby squandering a tough chance in the cordon.

A sedate session ensued, with Robson fending off the attentions of Worcestershire’s bowlers, on a placid looking surface that saw the boundaries come at a premium.

At 62 for 1 by lunch, Robson returned shortly after the interval to chalk up his second fifty of the Division Two season, whilst Holden’s gritty knock saw score just 13 from 100 deliveries at the other end.

With just 16 points separating second and seventh place in Division Two, the attritional nature of the contest continued into the afternoon, as two sides searching for a third win of the season resisted one another.

Worcestershire’s seamers continued to battle hard on a docile surface, with the next chance coming via a mix up in the middle that left Robson well short of his ground at the non-strikers end, but a poor throw saved the opener’s blushes.

Five balls after passing 100, the returning Ben Allison claimed the key scalp of Robson, with the Middlesex batter departing for a disciplined 70 after chopping onto his own stumps in the 46th over.

Featuring for the first time this campaign after a delayed start through injury, Allison hit back with a second wicket in an impressive spell as he nipped one back that castled Holden, with the left-hander forced to depart for a turgid 151-ball 49.

Worcestershire’s efforts to capitalise were to little avail, as the new pair of Caleb Falconer and Leus du Plooy settled in swiftly, touching gloves to acknowledge their fifty partnership shortly after Brett D’Oliveira entered the attack for the home side.

The momentum of the day swung drastically when Adam Finch roared into life by taking two wickets in successive balls soon after tea.

In a pivotal 67th over, the right arm seamer first pinned Falconer LBW for 37 with a ball that shaped back to beat his defences, before sending Joe Cracknell on his way for a first ball duck as the hosts wrestled back momentum at 199-5.

Finch grabbed a third wicket of an excellent spell as he helped strengthen the Pears grip on proceedings when he hurried Ethan Bosch for four.

Visiting skipper du Plooy registered a fifth half-century of the season as play entered the final hour, before Allison grabbed a third as Gohar became Worcestershire’s seventh victim of the day.

Finch ended du Plooy’s riposte for a superb 85 in the dying embers.