AN extraordinary batting display from opener Ed Pollock saw Worcestershire cruise to a seven-wicket win over Middlesex to keep their County Championship Division Two promotion hopes alive.

Pollock brought up his second first class ton from just 67 balls and included a remarkable 7 sixes and 9 fours as the Pears chased down Middlesex’ 237 inside 40 overs on day three of the clash.

Worcestershire had taken the remaining four wickets of the hosts’ second innings to leave themselves a rather unlikely target of 238 on a pitch that had been difficult to score on.

But Pollock (113) swatted the Middlesex bowlers around the ground before he was eventually caught but Taylor Cornall and Brett D’Oliveira got Worcestershire over the line.

The day began with Middlesex on 180/6 with a lead of 177 but it was not long before they lost a seventh wicket.

Charlie Morris bowled Toby Roland-Jones’ for 10, taking out his off stump to give Worcestershire the best possible start.

Morris then had another a few minutes later when he had Tom Helm caught by Baker without scoring after facing just eight balls.

Luke Hollman nudged the lead pass 200 with Umesh Yadav and there were concerns that the low order scoring was going to take the game away from the Pears.

But the innings was then brought to a close inside three overs as Taylor Cornall held onto a reverse sweep from Hollman off the bowling of Josh Baker for 46.

Yadav raced onto 44 from 41 before the eleventh man, Tim Murtagh, was caught behind off Joe Leach and Middlesex were all out for 240 and a lead of 237.

Ed Pollock and Jake Libby came to the crease and instantly settled into a rhythm.

They needed just five overs to reach 32/0 and had fifty inside seven as the game started to swing in Worcestershire’s favour.

The pair reached lunch with 60 on the board and still all ten wickets in hand.

Pollock, after smashing 158 in the Birmingham League with Ombersley last weekend, was in the zone and reached his half-century from just 40 deliveries before Libby’s innings came to an end when caught behind off Helm.

It offered some much needed confidence for the hosts but Pollock continued to swat everything to the boundary, including an extraordinary six 6s before he brought up his century off just 67 deliveries.

Another four and a six took Pollock to 113 before he was caught by Holden to bring his brilliant innings to an end.

Jack Haynes went for 18 but Cornall (31*) and captain D’Oliveira (36*) got the winnings runs.