WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Kabir Ali grabbed three wickets in four balls before table-topping Middlesex roared back with a fine century from Ed Joyce in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match at New Road.

Joyce cracked 125 to help hoist the visitors to a healthy 373-7 by the close of a sun-blessed opening day.

Middlesex continued to prosper today and passed 400 without losing any further wickets, with former Malvern College pupil David Nash unbeaten on 75.

Yesterday, hard-working Kabir finished with 5-70 after reducing Middlesex to 25-3 during a remarkable over in which he ripped out Andrew Strauss, Ben Hutton and Owais Shah.

Hutton and Shah fell in successive deliveries, but Joyce survived the hat-trick ball before confidently going on to hammer 22 fours off 189 deliveries.

The County's Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: "It was a good start by Kabir. He bowled particularly well with the new ball but it's a very important game for us. Middlesex are a threat to our promotion bid and it will be a good game for us to win."

Due to injuries Worcestershire called up paceman Chris Liptrot for his first Championship appearance of the season and Moody said: "With Shane Lee going back to Australia it's a wonderful opportunity for us as a club to show our strength and depth in our squad.

"Obviously it's nice to have an overseas player fully fit and playing but this is a great test for us."

Liptrot was part of a New Road attack frustrated by a 142-run partnership in 41 overs between Joyce and Sven Koenig, who made 81 off 152 balls before becoming a fourth victim for Kabir.

Ton-up Joyce fell to a smart leg side stumping by Steve Rhodes off medium pacer David Leatherdale after putting on 97 in 24 overs with Paul Weekes.

Liptrot trapped Weekes lbw for 46 while the final wicket of the day saw Kabir dismiss Jamie Dalrymple for 14.

Worcestershire Royals' Norwich Union League Division One clash with Kent Spitfires at New Road on Sunday will start an hour earlier at 12 noon.