COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Worcestershire 313, Middlesex 244-5
Middlesex 4 pts, Worcs 4 pts
Match scorecard

Shah is homing in on his 38th - and maybe last - century for Middlesex

Middlesex ended the second day still 69 runs adrift of Worcestershire with five wickets intact after rain called an early halt at Lord's.

Scott Newman recovered from an early run-out fiasco to make 78.

And the soon-to-depart Owais Shah was closing in on a farewell century on 70 when the weather had the final word.

Worcestershire will need early wickets on day three if they are to make a serious bid to deprive Glamorgan of the Division Two runners-up spot.

But it could all depend on Shah in his final game for Middlesex.

After a stay that has so far occupied three hours and 12 minutes, the former England batsman looked in determined mood and was just 30 short when torrential rain ended play after tea.

Bad light had earlier caused a 25-minute delay to the start of the day's play, when nightwatchman Steve Finn, who faced the one over possible before stumps on day one, was run out when Newman called him for an unnecessarily sharp single.

And John Simpson did not last long either, clipping Jack Shantry's left-arm swing to Moeen Ali in a deep leg-gully position.

But the skies did brighten considerably, especially when Newman and Shah were putting on 76 for the third wicket.

And, once Newman had been dismissed for an aggressive 78 from 91 balls, Shah featured in stands of 67 with Dan Housego and 46, so far unbroken, with his captain Neil Dexter, who is 26 not out.

BBC Hereford and Worcester's Trevor Owens offers his close of play verdict:
"Worcestershire still just about hold the advantage in that they have the runs on the board.

"But they will need to get Owais Shah early on day three if they are to secure a first-innings lead. He is clearly out to prove a point and looking to go on and get a big score.

"Alan Richardson and Jack Shantry stuck to the task well for Worcestershire but the spin of Shakib Al Hasan and Moeen Ali may well yet be key for the visitors.

"The other factor is the weather after most of the evening session on day two was lost following heavy rain."

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