Worcestershire Seconds had to work hard for wickets as an unbeaten century from Ryan Higgins helped Middlesex Seconds to end on top after day two of the four-day encounter at Kidderminster.
There was one success apiece for Charlie Morris, Pat Brown and Alexei Kervezee as Middlesex closed on 357-4 from 98 overs – a lead of 60.
The visitors resumed on 1-0 and openers Cameron Steel and England Under-19 captain Max Holden put on 69 before the former was caught at cover point off Brown.
Holden was then joined by Robbie White and they added a further 64 for the next wicket.
Holden made 66 off 111 balls with 11 boundaries when he nicked Morris through to keeper Alex Milton with the total on 133.
Higgins then came to the wicket and the partnership with White was worth 106.
White – 64 from 120 deliveries with 10 fours – gave Milton a second catch off Alexei Kervezee.
A fourth wicket went down at 281 when Martin Andersson (18) was sent back by Higgins after setting off for a single and was run out by Morris's throw to Milton.
But that was Worcestershire's last success and Higgins ended unbeaten on 144 from 164 balls with three sixes and 16 fours.
MIDDLESEX FIRST INNINGS CONTINUED
(overnight 1-0 off two overs)
Steel c Dell b Brown 26
Holden c Milton b Morris 66
White c Milton b Kervezee 64
Higgins not out 144
Andersson run out 18
Lace not out 28
Extras 11
Total (for 4 wickets) 357 in 98 overs
FOW: 69, 133, 239, 281
BOWLING
Morris 16-2-98-1
Scrimshaw 14-4-46-0
Hepburn 19-5-33-0
Brown 18-7-42-1
Twohig 9-0-55-0
Kervezee 19-4-57-1
Malik 3-0-16-0
