YORKSHIRE Phoenix must beat Kent Spitfires at Scarborough tomorrow if they are to avoid equalling the club's worst run of seven consecutive National League defeats which occurred in 1992 and again in 1999, writes David Warner.

And Yorkshire's attempt to get off the bottom of the First Division will be all the harder because Sri Lankan spin magician Muttiah Muralitharan is set to make his debut for Kent.

Muralitharan arrived in England on Tuesday and has had a couple of nets at Canterbury to get into the swing of things.

After winning their first National League match of the season against Warwickshire by a handsome margin, Yorkshire's form has deserted them. They have crashed to six defeats in a row with relegation staring them in the face.

But acting captain, Matthew Wood, said he was still confident Yorkshire could get out of trouble if they can overcome Kent and get on a winning run.

"It is important that we beat Kent by hook or by crook and get our campaign back on track," said Wood.

"The longer we go on losing the greater the pressure we put ourselves under and time is starting to run out but hopefully we will play well tomorrow and get a good result."

Yorkshire have no new injury problems and included in their 12 is Tim Bresnan who plays for England Under-19s in the first 'Test' against South Africa U19s at Headingley on Friday.

With three 'Tests' and three one-day internationals coming up over the next few weeks, Bresnan will not be available to Yorkshire again until the beginning of September.

Kent also have relegation worries but they have a full squad to choose from. Making his first appearance since the opening week of the season will be Copenhagen-born paceman, Amjad Khan, who returned his Championship best figures of 6-52 against Yorkshire at Canterbury last year.

Also back in the reckoning is Mohammad Sami who has recovered from an ankle injury.

Yorkshire Phoenix from: Wood, Fleming, White, Lumb, Yuvraj, Blakey, Craven, Bresnan, Sidebottom, Silverwood, Kirby, Gray.

Heavy rain prevented any play on the third day of Yorkshire's Championship match with Hampshire at North Marine Road yesterday.

Yorkshire were to resume on 23-0, an overall lead of 118.

Updated: 10:43 Saturday, July 26, 2003