Darren Lehmann is making a good recovery from an inflamed disc in his back and could return for Yorkshire Phoenix in tomorrow's crucial totesport League match against Second Division leaders Middlesex Crusaders at Southgate.

"I have been able to do some jogging over the last couple of days and will have a bat in the nets before deciding if I am fit enough," said Lehmann.

Middlesex have stumbled in the competition recently but remain six points clear of both Yorkshire and Worcestershire.

Southgate is a new venue for Yorkshire but director of cricket, David Byas, has played there before - on the hockey field.

"I went there with Malton after we had won promotion and competed in the National League," said Byas.

Byas knows that Yorkshire must win tomorrow if they are to finish as Second Division champions.

"If we lose, Middlesex will lead us by ten points but a victory will leave us only two points behind with a game in hand," he said.

"A win will also get our own back for losing to Middlesex by 29 runs at Headingley a month ago."

Middlesex are sure to be tough opponents, however, particularly now that their attack has been sharpened by the presence of Australia's pace-ace Glen McGrath.

Yorkshire Phoenix (from): Wood, Gale, McGrath, Lehmann, Harvey, Lumb, Craven, Dawood, Dawson, Blain, Bresnan, Kirby, Gray.

* Former Yorkshire star Michel Bevan proved the significant stumbling block between Middlesex and a three-day Frizzell County Championship Division One win in Southgate.

The left-handed Australian marked his Kent debut with a stoic half-century from 109 balls, having featured in an unbroken third-wicket stand worth 117 with captain David Fulton.

After a disastrous day in the field, Fulton saw his side lose two quick wickets as they set off in pursuit of a mammoth victory target of 530 from a minimum 146 overs.

Left-hander opener Michael Carberry, for the second time in the game, fished wide outside off-stump to gift his wicket to seamer Simon Cook, who then accounted for Ed Smith.

Kent's first innings top-scorer with 63, Smith reached nine second time around before his back foot force flew to an ideally placed fly-gully.

That bought together Bevan and Fulton to start Kent's fightback through to the close at 137 for two.

Enjoying the head-to-head against his Australian team-mate Glenn McGrath, Bevan hit eight fours, three of them in one McGrath over, on his way to a maiden 50 for Kent - his fourth English county.

Fulton also showed his grit, batting two hours and 20 minutes for his 50 and for 164-balls in all to see his side through to stumps.