IT was a day where the bowlers of each side enjoyed plenty of success as 15 wickets tumbled on day one of the County Championship match between Worcestershire and Middlesex.

Visitors Worcestershire produced a stunning display with the ball as they took ten wickets inside the first two sessions, with Joe Leach recording figures of 3-59 and Dillon Pennington and Josh Baker taking two wickets each.

Only Luke Hollman (62) and Tom Helm (50*) offered any sort of resistance for the hosts, who were eventually bowled out for 188.

But then Middlesex took early wickets in the Pears’ first innings to tarnish the day’s work before Ed Barnard and Gareth Roderick guided the away side to 90/5.

Middlesex won the toss and chose to bat at the Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood but it was a decision that backfired for the hosts.

Worcestershire produced a stunning display of bowling in the morning session, taking six wickets to leave Middlesex reeling on 76/6 by lunch.

It was Joe Leach who made the breakthrough in the fifth over when dismissing Sam Robson for just three runs.

Dillon Pennington came into the attack and took two wickets inside four overs.

First, he had Mark Stoneman caught by Leach for 18 with just his second delivery of the day before Jack Davies feathered one behind to Gareth Roderick on 14.

It was a brilliant start but it got even better when Ed Barnard bowled Robbie White for 2 in the 18th over of the morning.

A fifth wicket came in rather unfortunate circumstances for the hosts as a mix-up saw Max Holden run out for 12.

Then just before lunch, Leach returned to the attack to trap John Simpson LBW for 7 to leave Middlesex six wickets down.

The players returned after the break and Charlie Morris was brought in to have a bowl by skipper Brett D’Oliveira.

It was a move that paid off almost instantly as Morris had Toby Roland-Jones caught behind for 10.

Luke Hollman offered some much-needed resistance for Middlesex in the afternoon and an eight wicket stand of 83 with Tom Helm halted the momentum for Worcestershire.

But Josh Baker managed to break the partnership when removing Hollman’s stumps for 62 before Leach had Umesh Yadav caught for a duck in the next over.

Baker wrapped up the innings as he bowled Tim Murtagh for 5 but Jake Libby (15) and Ed Pollock (8) were both dismissed early on in Worcestershire’s response.

Taylor Cornall, Jack Haynes and Brett D’Oliveira followed soon after to leave the match in the balance.