WORCESTERSHIRE climbed out of the LV= County Championship Division One relegation zone after their match at Middlesex drifted to a tame draw.

The hosts' James Franklin again held the County up at Uxbridge but they gained 12 points to go two above both Hampshire and Nottinghamshire in the table at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Joe Leach (2-64) took his wicket tally for the season to 37 as he removed John Simpson (5) and Ollie Rayner (0) before lunch.

Middlesex were 183 ahead at 259-7 in the 88th over before captain Franklin followed his first-innings century with 91 not out and James Harris added 59no.

They declared on 362-7 for a lead of 286 just after tea on a lifeless pitch.

Worcestershire, who are now 10 points behind fourth-from-bottom Sussex, reached 39-1 from 11 overs of spin designed to speed up the Middlesex over rate before a draw was agreed.

The County claimed two wickets in the morning after Middlesex resumed on 140-3.

Spinner Moeen Ali (1-82) ended a stand of 74 between Joe Burns and Paul Stirling (39), who was bowled.

Burns (87) and Franklin added 103 in 28 overs before the former was caught by Leach on the boundary off Jack Shantry (2-37).

Tom Fell bowled his first over in first-class cricket before the declaration after a stand worth 103 between Franklin and Harris.

Middlesex spinner Rayner struck when Richard Oliver (6) was caught by Nick Compton.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell (11no) and Moeen (21no) then batted out time against occasional bowlers Sam Robson and Compton.