COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's:
CLOSE, DAY THREE: Worcestershire 313 & 195-7, Middlesex 392
Middlesex 7 pts, Worcs 5 pts
Match scorecard

Moeen's previous first-class best was 4-29 against Hampshire last season

Moeen Ali helped keep Worcestershire's promotion hopes alive both with bat and ball as the Division Two outsiders rallied against Middlesex at Lord's.

Middlesex looked set for a big first innings lead when the departing Owais Shah (117) and the classy Neil Dexter (97) took their overnight stand to 158.

But Moeen then took four wickets to end with a career-best 5-36.

And, after Middlesex slumped from 355-5 to 392 all out, Moeen (71no) helped the visitors reach 195-7 by the close.

After golden ducks for both Alexei Kervezee and Ben Cox, Gareth Andrew has also managed to stick around too.

And he has also got the scoreboard ticking over a bit more quickly, having hit five fours in his 34 out of an eighth wicket stand so far worth 47.

That gives Steve Rhodes' side a lead of 116 - and, if Moeen and Andrew can hang about on the final morning, then they may yet set the home side a decent victory target.

With second-placed Glamorgan looking set for a draw across London against Surrey at The Oval, Worcestershire must win to keep their outside promotion hopes alive.

Middlesex are still in control, however, and on course for a first home Championship win over Worcestershire since 1985.

That is in large part down to Shah's century in his farewell appearance, after converting his overnight 70 into a 38th first-class hundred for Middlesex.

Having resumed on 244-5, Shah thrilled the home crowd by going to his century in some style, cover driving Alan Richardson for his 10th four.

He received a warm reception from the spectators, who then gave him a standing ovation when he departed, having edged Moeen to slip on 117.

Dexter looked like following him to three figures, especially when he straight drove Moeen for four to reach 97, but just two balls later he chipped a soft return catch.

Owais Shah completed his 38th - and probably last - century for Middlesex

A rain shower briefly interrupted play just after lunch, but Moeen finished off the Middlesex innings.

Toby Roland-Jones (3-65) then spearheaded a good performance in the field, supported by Pedro Collins (2-35).

He produced a brilliant piece of fielding at backward point to break Worcestershire's opening stand of 47, his athletic stop and throw over the stumps beating David Wheeldon's attempt to regain his ground.

In the same over, Vikram Solanki was lbw on the back foot to a delighted Shah and Worcestershire's decline continued in the final session when Collins saw Mitchell play on and Kervezee fall lbw to the next ball.

Shakib Al Hasan kept out the hat-trick ball but had made only 10 when he edged Roland-Jones hard to first slip where Dawid Malan parried the ball upwards and then spun around to dive and grab it before it hit the ground.

Malan pouched an easier catch when James Cameron also edged Roland-Jones, who was on a hat-trick himself when Cox nicked the next ball to second slip.

Left-hander Andrew edged a ball angled across him, but it fell short of the slips and went for four - and, from there, the visitors survived sufficiently well to give themselves hope of still winning this match.

BBC Hereford & Worcester's Trevor Owens gives his close of day verdict:
"Moeen Ali produced the all-round performance of the day and, crucially, he is still there after completing his second half-century of the match.

"Middlesex will point to Owais Shah's fine century, but Moeen's all-round effort went a long way to ensuring Worcestershire are still in the game.

"Gareth Andrew is still there and has provided excellent support but Worcestershire will need to push that lead up over 150 on the final morning if they are to give themselves a defendable total."

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