WORCESTERSHIRE battled every inch of the way before their County Championship Division Two promotion hopes were hit by a six wicket defeat against table-topping Middlesex at New Road yesterday.

The visitors finally won with 10.2 overs to spare after being left a victory target of 190 in 56 overs.

For the gallant County it was their third Championship de-feat of the season, the last being in mid-May when they suffered a five wicket reversal against Essex at New Road.

Middlesex were eventually steered to victory by an unbeaten 79-run partnership between Ed Joyce (46 not out) and Paul Weekes (40 not out).

It was the culmination of four days of excellent Championship action in which Worcestershire put themselves on the back foot by allowing their visitors to make 531 in their first innings after being 25-3.

The absorbing last day began with the County holding a slender 39-run advantage on 251-5.

Two brief interruptions for rain failed to unsettle over-night batsmen David Leather-dale and Gareth Batty until they fell in consecutive overs.

Leatherdale took his over-night tally of 30 to 42 while Batty advanced from 11 to 33 before a stand of 62 in 12 overs between Steve Rhodes and Kabir Ali gave the County a further timely boost.

Kabir made 35, including two sixes and three fours off 42 balls, before Chris Liptrot hit 16 off 23 deliveries during a partnership of 40 with Rhodes.

Battling Rhodes was eventually run out for 47 off 53 balls. He cracked six fours.

Their combined efforts gave Middlesex a far bigger target than they might have expected.