THE Kent/Middlesex opener Michael Carberry revived his side's fortunes in the Second Eleven friendly at Clifton Park, York, yesterday.

The visitors lost early wickets to the Yorkshire pace attack but Carberry responded with a sound knock let down by a rash shot to the England Under-19 spinner Mark Lawson as lunch approached.

After the break, skipper James Tredwell and Mike Dennington gave signs of a substantial lead with a century fourth wicket stand before York's Nick Thornicroft was rewarded for a good spell with the wicket of Tredwell.

Lawson trapped Dennington with a Yorker and ex-Notts paceman David Lucas returned to put the visitors' innings on the slide with three quick victims.

Only a robust tirade from David Stiff enabled Kent/Middlesex to approach parity when they declared two short at 256-8.

Yorkshire's openers Andrew Gale and Joe Sayers batted serenely to add 66 before the close, but a declaration was likely to be necessary to create an interesting finish.

SCOREBOARD

Second Eleven Friendly

Yorkshire v Middlesex/Kent

(at Clifton Park, York)

Final day today

Yorkshire 2nds first innings: A Gale c Piesley b Whelan 13, J Sayers c Piesley b bSheriyar 6, R Pyrah c Piesley b Dennington 4, S Guy c Jones b Hutchison 108, P Holdsworth c Jones b Dennington 22, R J Blakey c Piesley b Sheriyar 6, A Lyth c Carberry b Whelan 17, D Lucas c Whelan b Hutchison 29, M Lawson not out 3, N Thornicroft b Jones 3, M Claydon not out 0. Extras 37. Total 258.

Bowling: Sheriyar 15-6-36-2, Whelan 10-3-39-2, Dennington 13-2-55-2, Hutchison 12-2-34-2, Stiff 6-1-21-1, Jones 11-1-46-1, Tredwell 3-1-11-0.

Middlesex and Kent 2nds first innings: M Carberry c Gale b Lawson 60, J Denly c Guy b Claydon 9, Compton c Gale b Warren 7, J Tredwell lbw b Thornicroft 67, Dennington b Lawson 41, Ferley b Lucas 20, C Whelan lbw b Lucas 8, R L Piesley c Guy b Warren 3, P Hutchison not out 2, H Jones c Guy b Lucas 0, D Stiff not out 23. Extras 16. Total 256-9.

Yorkshire 2nds second innings: A Gale not out 29, J Sayers not out 29. Extras 8. Total 66-0.

Overnight bowling: Sheriyar 4-0-28-0, Whelan 6-6-16-0, Stiff 2.4-2-4-0, R Ferley 3.20-0-7-0, Dennington 3-1-5-0, Tredwell 1-1-0-0.

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, May 26, 2005