Shaun Udal's highest score for 11 years rescued Middlesex on the first day of their Division Two match with promotion rivals Worcestershire at Lord's.

Udal hit 91 after Middlesex had been reduced to 19-3 by the visitors and he helped his side reach 300 as Ed Joyce, Ben Scott and Tim Murtagh chipped in.

Kabir Ali ended with fine figures of 5-58 from 18.4 overs, and Gareth Andrew picked up two crucial wickets as well.

Worcestershire reached 9-0 from five overs as they began their reply.

Middlesex won the toss and decided to bat but they were soon in trouble when Nick Compton was trapped lbw, Owais Shah was bowled and Dawid Malan edged behind.

Joyce and Eoin Morgan began a recovery before Morgan fell to Andrew and when Joyce was run out brilliantly by Stephen Moore the hosts were reeling on 102-5.

Scott gloved a catch behind for 41 before Udal and Murtagh proceeded to put on 105 for the seventh wicket as they counter-attacked Worcestershire, Udal hitting seven fours and two sixes.

Murtagh fell six short of a half-century and Ali returned to dismiss Murali Kartik, Udal and Steven Finn to wrap the innings up.